Muhammad Arslan Akhtar
Cybersecurity Consultant | AI & Data Science Engineer
Security isn't just about protection—it's about resilience, intelligence, and foresight.
About Me
I’m a passionate cybersecurity consultant and AI/data science specialist with a multidisciplinary background in penetration testing, AI-driven threat modeling, risk management, and predictive analytics. With an MBA in Technology Integration and a bachelor's in Computational Mathematics, I bridge the critical gap between technical depth and strategic execution.
Over the last 5+ years, I’ve worked with startups, global firms, and government entities, helping them secure their digital infrastructure, optimize risk posture, and integrate ethical AI into their ecosystems. I’m also a bug bounty researcher, actively engaged on platforms like HackerOne and Bugcrowd, and recognized by 200+ companies for responsible disclosure.
Work Experience
🔹 Information Security Consultant
Hootsuite | Remote | 2023 – Present
Conducting strategic and tactical security operations across cloud and enterprise environments.
  • Led risk assessments aligned with NIST CSF and ISO/IEC 27001 for SaaS infrastructure
  • Performed penetration testing and vulnerability assessments using Burp Suite, nmap, and custom scripts
  • Conducted incident response drills and developed IR playbooks
  • Assisted in compliance initiatives (SOC 2, GDPR, internal audits)
  • Collaborated with DevOps teams to embed security into CI/CD pipelines
Key Achievements:
  • Reduced cloud security misconfigurations by 45%
  • Improved threat detection coverage with MITRE ATT&CK-aligned detection rules
🔹 AI Cybersecurity Intern – DevSecOps & AI Security
NewtonAI Technologies, USA | Remote | June 2025 – Dec 2025
Hands-on role in building secure AI/ML-powered cybersecurity tools and infrastructure.
  • Developed secure container-based pipelines using Docker, Trivy, and GitHub Actions
  • Automated threat detection using machine learning in log analysis pipelines
  • Applied AI Security and AIOps principles in real-world data
  • Authored internal research on “Container Vulnerability Assessment with ML Integration”
Key Deliverables:
  • Published professional open-source projects: RedSage, CloudHarden, SentinelPass
  • Simulated real-world threat models with documented results and code
🔹 Freelance Ethical Hacker & Bug Bounty Researcher
HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWehack (Recognized by 500+ Companies) | 2020 – Present
Providing offensive security assessments and vulnerability disclosure as a white-hat.
  • Discovered and reported critical vulnerabilities in fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS platforms
  • Specialized in OWASP Top 10, JWT/SSRF/XSS/IDOR, and cloud misconfigurations
  • Maintained a reputation for responsible disclosure and coordinated vulnerability handling
  • Collaborated with security teams across multiple sectors in a NDA-bound professional manner
Notable Engagements:
  • Multiple private invites and thank-you acknowledgments
  • Advocated one-off bug bounty payments where no formal program existed
Portfolio Projects
Cybersecurity Consulting Project
Conducted a comprehensive security audit for a leading fintech startup, identifying and mitigating critical vulnerabilities to strengthen their data protection measures.
Ethical Hacking Challenge
Participated in a white hat hacking competition, successfully penetrating target systems and reporting findings to improve the organization's security posture.
Blockchain Integration
Designed and implemented a blockchain-based supply chain management solution for a major manufacturing company, enhancing transparency and traceability.

🔹 RedSage – Advanced Threat Detection & Response Simulation (MITRE ATT&CK Aligned)

Real-world simulation framework built on Kali Linux for red and blue team collaboration, featuring: Adversary Emulation Utilizes custom scripts for realistic adversary emulation, simulating various attack scenarios. MITRE ATT&CK Alignment Incorporates MITRE ATT&CK-based tactics and procedures for comprehensive threat modeling. Detection Engineering & SIEM Focuses on detection engineering with seamless SIEM integration for real-time monitoring and analysis. Comprehensive Documentation Includes detailed documentation complete with supporting screenshots and code examples.

🔹 CloudHarden – Cloud Security Assessment for AWS/Kali

This end-to-end framework streamlines cloud security assessments by simulating misconfigurations, hardening infrastructure, and detecting cloud-native threats: Misconfiguration Simulation Simulates common AWS misconfigurations to identify and exploit vulnerabilities effectively. IaC Hardening Hardens Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform to ensure secure and compliant cloud deployments. Cloud-Native Threat Detection Leverages tools like ScoutSuite, Wazuh (SIEM), and AWS IAM Analyzer for comprehensive threat detection and analysis.

🔹 SentinelPass – Password Auditing & Cracking Simulation CLI

An offensive security tool that simulates password cracking and strength analysis: Hybrid Attacks Simulates advanced password cracking techniques using a combination of hybrid wordlists and rule-based attack strategies for comprehensive analysis. Entropy Estimation Leverages the zxcvbn library to provide accurate entropy estimation, helping users understand the true strength and vulnerability of their passwords. John the Ripper Integration Directly integrates with John the Ripper, a powerful open-source password cracking tool, to perform robust auditing and analysis. Real-World Attack Scenarios Includes practical examples of real-world attack scenarios with accompanying screenshots and detailed documentation for hands-on learning.

🔹 SecuGraph – DevSecOps Pipeline for Secure CI/CD

A cloud-native DevSecOps blueprint for securing Kubernetes and Docker workflows: SAST/DAST Scans Integrates both Static and Dynamic Application Security Testing for comprehensive vulnerability detection. Automated Security Gates Leverages GitHub Actions to implement automated security gates within the CI/CD pipeline. IaC Policy Enforcement Enforces security policies on Infrastructure as Code using tools like Open Policy Agent. OWASP Top 10 Coverage Ensures robust protection against the most critical web application security risks outlined in the OWASP Top 10.

Skills & Technical Proficiencies
Cybersecurity & Offensive Security
  • Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking
  • Vulnerability Assessment & Management
  • Adversary Emulation & Red Teaming
  • Password Auditing & Cracking
  • Bug Bounty Research
  • NIST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, MITRE ATT&CK, OWASP Top 10
  • Burp Suite, Nmap, Metasploit, OWASP ZAP, Wireshark.
Security Operations & Cloud Security
  • SIEM & Detection Engineering
  • Cloud Security (AWS)
  • IAM, S3, CloudTrail, Security Hub
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security
  • DevSecOps & CI/CD Security
  • Risk Management & Security Audits
  • GitHub Actions, OPA, Trivy, Snyk, ScoutSuite, and Wazuh
AI, Data Science & Analytics
  • AI-Driven Threat Modeling
  • Predictive Analytics
  • Data Analysis & Visualization
  • Machine Learning, NLP, CV, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow
  • Statistical Modeling
Tools & Technologies
  • Kali Linux, Terraform, Wazuh
  • John the Ripper, ScoutSuite
  • GitHub Actions, Open Policy Agent
  • Python, SQL, R, Bash
  • Jupyter, FastAPI, Git, VSCode
  • AWS Services, Kubernetes, Docker
Education & Certifications
1
MBA
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (2017-2020)
2
BS in Computational Mathematics
Government College University, Faisalabad (2013-2017)
3
Data Science BootCamp
Atomcamp (2023-2024)
4
Advanced Machine Learning Bootcamp
Atomcamp (2024)
5
Cyber Security & Ethical Hacking Master Bootcamp
BIA Analytics Boston USA (2024 - 2025)

Professional Certifications
Emerging AI Trends in Ethical Hacking | Data Analytics Bootcamp | Cyber Security & Ethical Hacking
Contact Information
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