About

I’m Jamie Owen — 23, based in the UK, working in IT security. I write about the Microsoft security stack, AI tools, and what it actually looks like to build a career in tech when you started as an apprentice rather than with a CS degree.

This blog exists because I couldn’t find many honest accounts from people my age in this industry. Most content is either entry-level hand-holding or assumes you’ve been doing this for 20 years. This is the middle ground.

What I write about

Technical — Security tooling, Microsoft Sentinel, Defender, Azure, and AI in the SOC. Practical stuff I’ve actually used, not just vendor documentation regurgitated.

Career — Apprenticeships, progression, salary conversations, navigating a room full of people twice your age. The things nobody tells you until after they’ve already happened to you.

Young People in IT — Direct advice for people starting out. Certifications, job hunting, imposter syndrome, all of it.

Background

I came through the apprenticeship route. No university, no CS theory — straight into a real job, learning on the job, picking up certs along the way. It’s worked out, but it looked nothing like the career advice I found online when I was starting.

If you’re 18-25 and trying to break into tech, or you’re already in and trying to figure out what comes next — this is for you.

Get in touch

Email: jamie@owenlabs.co.uk