Unlocking success: Insider tips from an Elastic Gold Contributor with Wagner Souza
![community-blog-series-template-wagner.png](https://static-www.elastic.co/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/blt3e3fbf3279958902/66a27e0c1b1b456ffaeebc49/community-blog-series-template-wagner.png)
Wagner Souza, an information security specialist focusing on vulnerability management, threat hunting, SIEM, ISO 27001 audit support, and LGPD compliance for six years, is an Elastic enthusiast and a Gold Contributor. He has presented multiple times at tech and security conferences and educational events. His hobbies include philosophy, literature, history, and religion. He also likes to work out and run to relieve stress and take care of his health. Check out his tips and learn from his experience as a community contributor.
1. Can you describe your journey to becoming a Gold Contributor in the Elastic Contributor Program? What motivated you to start, and what kept you going?
I was introduced to the Elastic Contributor Program through one of the participants and a teammate at the company I worked for in 2021. I understood that it was a healthy competition aiming to share knowledge using the Elastic Stack. The program aligned with my concepts, and I have always liked studying new technologies and sharing discoveries with others. With that, I started writing articles for the program, where I was awarded a Silver Contributor in my first year. From the other cycles onwards, I made a lot of effort to contribute articles and videos and achieved the gold tier for two years in a row.
2. What are some of the most valuable skills or knowledge you have gained from participating in the program? How have these benefited you in your personal or professional life?
As an information security analyst, using Elastic as a SIEM provided faster threat investigation. This made my work more productive since it was quite laborious to access assets for log investigation. The set of Elastic Security resources, SIEM and EDR, enabled a greater context of monitoring, detection, and responses in SOC activities offered to our customers.
4. What advice would you give new members just starting out in the Elastic Contributor Program? Are there any strategies or resources that you found particularly helpful?
I would like to invite everyone to participate in the contribution program. If we share a little of our knowledge, this will become an extensive network of information that will add much value to the entire community.
5. How would you encourage someone who is considering joining the Elastic Contributor Program? What aspects of the program do you find most rewarding and worthwhile?
Firstly, it would be the ability to share knowledge and participate in face-to-face and online events, strengthening my network. Elastic swag and giveaways are exciting as they encourage healthy competition and motivate each participant to bring more relevant content to our community. My advice is: don't underestimate your skills. A simple answer in the discussion forum or a straightforward article can significantly benefit someone needing that information. The spirit of contribution is a hallmark of the Elastic community.
The release and timing of any features or functionality described in this post remain at Elastic's sole discretion. Any features or functionality not currently available may not be delivered on time or at all.