Danish Siddiqui

Senior Product Security Engineer — AppSec, AWS Cloud Security, DevSecOps, ISO 27001, Bug Bounty, CVEs.

2 minute read

Security Ownership Overview

Who I Am

Senior Product Security Engineer with 6+ years of experience owning and scaling security programs end-to-end across application security, cloud security (AWS), DevSecOps, compliance, and external vulnerability detection.

I specialize in building security functions from zero, operating them at scale, and embedding security into engineering workflows without slowing delivery.

What I Own (Not Just What I Do)

I operate as a security owner, not a point contributor.

End-to-end ownership includes:

  • Product Security strategy and execution
  • Application, API, mobile, and cloud security risk (OWASP Top 10, OWASP API Top 10)
  • DevSecOps controls embedded into CI/CD
  • Bug bounty program governance and triage
  • Vulnerability lifecycle from discovery to remediation to prevention
  • ISO 27001:2022 readiness as primary Security SPOC
  • Security risk communication and stakeholder management with engineering and leadership

How I Approach Security

My security philosophy is risk-based, developer-first, and outcome-driven.

  • I prioritize exploitability and blast radius, not checklist compliance
  • I embed security early in the SDLC, not as a late gate
  • I design controls that engineers trust and adopt
  • I focus on reducing real attack paths, not inflating metrics
  • I treat compliance as a by-product of good security, not paperwork

Core Security Domains I Own

Product and Application Security

  • Secure design reviews, threat modeling, and real-world attack path analysis
  • Web, API, mobile security assessments (OWASP Top 10, OWASP API Top 10)
  • Business-logic and authorization flaw detection

DevSecOps and Automation

  • SAST, SCA, and container security embedded into CI/CD security
  • Risk-based enforcement instead of blanket blocking
  • Security signal tuned for developer adoption

Cloud Security (AWS)

  • Attack path analysis across IAM, VPC, networking, and services
  • CSPM-driven visibility with exploitability-focused prioritization (CloudTrail, GuardDuty, WAF)
  • Secure cloud architecture guidance without operational disruption

Bug Bounty and External Signal

  • Scope definition, severity taxonomy, and payout governance
  • High-signal triage and engineering-ready remediation
  • Integration of external findings into internal security programs

Governance and Compliance

  • ISO 27001:2022 readiness ownership
  • Control mapping to real technical systems
  • Audit readiness, evidence design, and cross-functional coordination

What I’ve Delivered

  • Built Product Security from scratch as first security hire
  • Reduced critical production-bound vulnerabilities by ~30%
  • Standardized security coverage across CI/CD pipelines
  • Identified and remediated high-risk AWS attack paths
  • Scaled and governed bug bounty programs with high signal quality
  • Enabled sustainable ISO 27001 readiness without "paper compliance"

How I Add Value to Organizations

I help organizations:

  • Move from reactive security to proactive risk reduction
  • Scale security without slowing engineering teams
  • Make informed security trade-offs, not fear-driven decisions
  • Build trust between security, engineering, and leadership
  • Prepare for audits while improving real security posture

Best-Fit Roles

This profile is best suited for:

  • Senior or Principal Product Security Engineer
  • Senior Application Security Engineer
  • Senior Cloud Security Engineer (product-focused)
  • Security Lead (individual contributor track)

Especially effective in:

  • Product companies
  • Fintech and healthtech
  • Cloud-native organizations
  • Regulated environments (UAE, MEA)

What You Can Expect From Me

  • Ownership, not hand-holding
  • Clear communication, not noise
  • Practical security decisions
  • Strong collaboration with engineers
  • Accountability for outcomes