“usd currently has three locations in Germany: Neu-Isenburg, Cologne, and Munich.” We hear this phrase often - and Munich is almost always mentioned last. Yet our youngest and smallest location has a lot to offer: a strong identity, a passion for IT security, and a clear goal in mind - to continue to grow and to strengthen our role as a central point of contact in southern Germany.
So what characterizes usd in Munich, and what makes it exciting for IT security talent? We asked three colleagues about their personal start and their experiences as “Munich usd Heroes”:
Patricia Horvath, Working Student in usd HeroLab.
Jonas Merforth, Consultant in the team Security Audits & PCI.
Nico Fechtner, Managing Consultant in the team Security Audits & PCI.
Let's start at the beginning: How did you join usd?
Patricia: I’m studying information systems at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and was specifically looking for a working student position to gain some hands-on experience. During my search, I came across usd and was immediately excited - especially because there’s a clear focus on IT security here, an area where I really wanted to grow. Shortly afterward, I was able to start as a working student in the usd HeroLab.
Nico: My path to usd was not quite as straightforward as Patricia’s. After studying at TUM, I first worked in software development, pentesting, and ISMS consulting at various companies. Eventually, I came across usd on LinkedIn. What appealed to me most was the combination of technical topics and management and governance aspects in the audit area. During my interview with my current mentor, it was an instant match - both professionally and personally. Just a month later, I started my first day in Munich, and I’ve now been part of the Security Audits & PCI team for about three and a half years.
Jonas: I discovered usd at the IKOM career fair at TUM. Up until that point, I’d been working as a student in software development, but I wanted to switch to the field of cyber security. At IKOM, I was immediately impressed by usd’s open yet professional atmosphere. Of all my conversations, those with usd stood out to me the most, and I was sure it would be a great fit.
Nico, you're smiling - is that perhaps due to the university engagement in Munich?
Nico: When I started here, we weren't participating in any university activities in Munich yet - unlike in Neu-Isenburg or Cologne, where we were already giving guest lectures, attending job fairs, and even teaching entire courses in some cases. I thought to myself: Why aren’t we doing this here in Munich, too? So I decided to change that. Thanks to Andrea (Tubach), our board member for People & Culture and Marketing, for placing her trust in me! I’m excited to see how our efforts are paying off - Jonas is a great example of that.By now, thanks to our various activities at Munich universities, we’ve been able to recruit several new colleagues for all kinds of different teams.
The majority of your colleagues and especially your mentors are based in Neu-Isenburg and Cologne. How is the onboarding process when you start here in Munich?
Jonas: The onboarding process went really smoothly for me. Since we all work distributed across Germany anyway, the processes for new colleagues are very well established. A lot of things are handled through Asana and Teams. I found the buddy system especially helpful: there was a colleague I could reach out to at any time. Even though she was based in Cologne, working together remotely worked out great. After a very short time, I was already able to accompany full-time colleagues on audits. This kind of hands-on “learning by doing” isn’t something you can take for granted, and it really made a difference for me.
You are now over 20 Heroes in Munich. Pentesters, auditors, consultants… a diverse mix of different teams. Nevertheless, your team spirit is clearly noticeable. How does that work?
Patricia: Even though we often work remotely, we try to have lunch together at the office as often as possible. Once a month, it’s even centrally organized and paid for by usd. That way, even during busy project weeks, we get the chance to connect - whether it’s about project work or just chatting about our weekend.
Jonas: We also regularly organize events, either after work or outside the work context altogether. For example, in winter we went curling together, and in the summer we like to go to the beer garden as a group. I pretty much always try to join these activities because it’s just fun to meet up outside of work and connect on a personal level.
Nico: We’ve also gone hiking together, taken part in charity runs, and attended conferences or security meetups as a group here in Munich. My personal highlight is that we’ve now been going to Oktoberfest/ Wiesn together for two years. Some colleagues from the other usd locations use the opportunity to come visit us and enjoy the relaxed Wiesn atmosphere.
What have you learned at usd so far that you didn't expect?
Patricia: I sometimes find it hard to speak in front of large groups. Before I started as a working student, I never would have imagined that I’d expand my IT security knowledge so quickly that, for example, I’d be giving presentations at the usd Hackertage as a speaker.
Jonas: I’ve especially learned a lot when it comes to working with clients. Previously, I worked as a software developer at a start-up and had almost no contact with customers. Now, I sit in meetings with large companies and lead audit sessions. That’s definitely something I’d never done before, and now it’s become second nature to me.
Nico: I’d only been working full-time for about six months when we hired several new working students in Munich two years ago. The question came up: Who’s going to mentor them? I got the chance to take on responsibility as a mentor for these colleagues right away, and I’m still very grateful for that challenge - it really helped me grow.
What advice would you give to friends who are interested in the usd?
Patricia: Just attend one of the guest lectures, e.g., at the TU Munich or the Munich University of Applied Sciences. My team lead, Merten, is will be giving another guest lecture this semester, talking about web app pentesting. Otherwise, I recommend taking part in the usd student events, such as the usd Hackertage or usd Hacking Nights. They are a great opportunity to test your skills, connect with people, and gain new knowledge.
Jonas: That's exactly what I would recommend. Attend guest lectures or recruiting fairs such as IKOM and find out more about usd - for example on our website or via our social media channels. If this appeals to you, just apply! Our colleagues in the People & Culture team do a great job of finding the right position for everyone. It worked very well for me too. As a working student, you definitely get great insights into the practice and the company. Many even join usd full-time after graduation.
Lastly: Three words that describe the Munich office for you?
Jonas: Young, dynamic, and straightforward.
Patricia: Supportive, flat hierarchies, and open-minded.
Nico: Agile, dedicated, and ambitious.
Have we made you curious? Then check out our career page and become a hero.
