New essay: “So You Got Hacked: Whose Fault Is It?” Read on Medium

About me

I help teams ship software that is easier to trust.

I’m Janith Malinga, an Application Security Engineer at Amazon based in St Albans, UK. I work across threat modeling, secure design, cloud security, and developer enablement, then write about what I’m learning in plain language.

  • Application Security
  • Cloud Security
  • Threat Modeling
  • Secure SDLC
  • Automation & Tooling
  • AI for Security
Portrait of Janith Malinga

Experience

Security work shaped by teaching

My path moved from classrooms to consulting to product-scale security, and the through-line is making complex ideas practical.

Today

Application Security Engineer at Amazon

I focus on secure design, threat modeling, and helping development teams build securely at scale without slowing down useful delivery.

8 years

Security Consultant

I advised teams across government, finance, insurance, and defense on security reviews, assessments, and risk reduction.

Builder

Co-Founder, Education Institute

I helped build an institute for advanced IT concepts with practical experience, supporting students as they advanced or changed careers.

Foundation

Physics Teacher

Teaching advanced-level physics trained me to simplify hard problems, explain tradeoffs, and meet people where they are.

Writing

Recent notes

Short, practical pieces on security engineering, software, and the habits behind good work.

Books

A Few Books That Shaped My Life

Timeless ideas I revisit when I need clarity and momentum.

Cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey

This is the book that shaped my life. When I joined Amazon, I had a major change of mindset I was going through a tough time initially. This book helped me navigate that period.

Cover of Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Practical systems for tiny improvements that compound over time. Helped me build sustainable routines for learning and writing.

Cover of Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon

Show Your Work!

Austin Kleon

A gentle nudge to share in-progress ideas. It changed how I think about teaching and documenting my work publicly.

Cover of The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey

The Productivity Project

Chris Bailey

Experiments and evidence-backed tactics for doing meaningful work with intention beyond busywork.

Selected Posts

Thoughts Worth Revisiting

A few posts that capture ideas I keep thinking about.