Were curiosity not an intrinsic trait of adventurers, André Tenreiro would not have started exploring encyclopaedias as a child. Today, at 39, the computer engineer tells us what it has been like to explore new places, this time from Singapore.
Cape Verde, Portugal, the Czech Republic and now Singapore. Three of the five continents are already in the Mozambican’s passport, after 15 years living away from his native country. As for the rest of the world, 2020 was a decisive year, and during the pandemic crisis he headed for the island nation.
Tenreiro works in cybersecurity and, after exploring several options, he and his wife decided that Singapore would be the right place to settle and explore new opportunities. The country’s pioneering position in information technology was crucial in the couple’s decision to settle there: “There are other things I admire about Singapore, such as the country’s cultural diversity. Historically, Singapore has been a trading post for centuries and a place where various cultures of the West and East come together. To this day that fusion of cultures remains,” the engineer adds.
The truth is that getting to know a country before emigrating is half the battle in making the adjustment go well. André was well aware of its high human development index, its top-class infrastructure, low crime rate and cleanliness. “After getting to know Singapore, I was fascinated and understood the reason behind that reputation. Singapore is an ambitious country and Singaporeans are very proud of the extraordinary progress their country has made since it became independent in 1965,” he tells us, in an interview conducted electronically.
The dynamism of the field means that the pursuit of knowledge is a constant. Being at the cutting edge of technology is a basic prerequisite for doing one’s job as well as possible. It is achieved through online publications, conferences, specialist forums and the community itself (which is, in its own right, quite enthusiastic).
Nevertheless, the challenge is real: “In this field of cybersecurity, the greatest challenge is staying ahead of the hackers. Some analysts consider cybercrime the “problem of the decade”, because of the impact it has on the economy, on the stability of countries and on the privacy of their citizens.
It is a bit of a cat-and-mouse game, in which cybercriminals are constantly and creatively developing ever more sophisticated new techniques, and we are on the other side building defences and defending our “castle”. The problem of cybersecurity is not just a technological one; it involves people being prepared to identify risk situations, and more robust processes, in order to protect organisations. All of us, within an organisation, have a role to play when it comes to cybersecurity,” explains André.
The road is made by walking, and André Tenreiro feels that he continues to contribute to projects and initiatives related to information technology. While the one-way ticket to land at Maputo International Airport has not yet been bought, the engineer keeps himself busy: on his agenda is creating a podcast about cybersecurity with a friend. That sharing and the more social side will always be present: “I think the socialising aspect is very prominent in the way Mozambicans are. It is one of the characteristics that makes our people a cheerful and welcoming people,” he shares, cheerfully, we imagine, behind a computer.
