Easton Jackson

Intro

Hey there, folks! Step into my little corner of the web, where country living and tech vibes collide. I'm a country boy through and through. I spent my early years knee-deep in mud from flood irrigation on the family farm before I packed up and headed to college at 18. But here's the twist – behind this outdoorsy exterior, you'll find a guy who's as intrigued by technology and computers as he is by the great outdoors. Fast forward to today, and I'm gearing up to toss my graduation cap, holding a shiny new degree in cybersecurity.

Work

Farm Hand | 2012 - 2023

Growing up in the heart of a family farm instilled in me a deep appreciation for hard work and the beauty of the land. From 2012 to 2023, I served as a dedicated farm hand, wearing the badge of honor that comes with cutting, raking, and hauling hay. Beyond the fields, I took part in managing the flood irrigation system. Operating various machinery became second nature, and I took pride in not just using them but also in keeping them running smoothly through regular maintenance.

Data Entry Specialist | Suhdutsing Technologies | October 2022 - January 2023

In the fall of 2022, I took a dive into the tech world with a part-time position at Suhdutsing Technologies. My role as a data entry specialist involved meticulous handling of information for Swiss Colonies. On top of data entry, I found myself lending a hand in troubleshooting technological issues within the office, showcasing my growing interest and aptitude for the world of technology.

IT Intern | Intermountain Power Plant | September 2019 - March 2020

In September 1029, I took up the oppurtunity to work at the local coal power plant. I was an information technology intern and got to help do a lot of tasks out at the power plant. I drove out there every day and spent a few hours during school working with the IT staff out there. We spend time installing access points, troubleshooting printers, and responding to general help desk tickets.

IT Help Desk Technician | Southern Utah University (SUU) | February 2023 - Present

In February 2023, I ventured into the academic realm, joining the IT help desk team at Southern Utah University. Starting as a Tier 1 support, I quickly climbed the ranks, reaching the role of a Tier 2 help desk technician within just three months. In this capacity, I delved into the intricate web of technologies, employing protocols such as DHCP and WPA2 to ensure seamless connectivity. My toolkit expanded to include a variety of software solutions like Jamf, Intune, Printer Logic, Jira, Parted Magic, and Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). These experiences not only sharpened my technical skills but also fueled my passion for cybersecurity, laying the groundwork for my academic pursuits and future career goals.

About

Hey there! I'm Easton Jackson, a country-loving guy who's all about the simple joys of farm life and the excitement of diving into the tech world. I spent a good chunk of my younger years as a farm hand, doing everything from cutting hay to managing the irrigation system. This job molded who I am today.

Then, in 2022, I took a bit of a occupation turn, working part-time at Suhdutsing Technologies doing data entry for Swiss Colonies. That experience paved the way for a new chapter at Southern Utah University's IT help desk in early 2023. I started as Tier 1 support, and within a blink, I found myself in the role of a Tier 2 help desk technician. Protocols like HTTPS and SSH became more understood, and I utilized a bunch of tech tools like Jamf, Intune, Printer Logic, Jira, Parted Magic, and Darik's Boot and Nuke.

Now, when I'm not knee-deep in farm chores or tech wizardry, you'll catch me with a handful of hobbies. Python programming, hosting my own servers, strumming tunes on my guitar, fixing up my truck, and of course, fly fishing. It's a bit of a unique mix, but hey, that's what makes it interesting!

Projects

Self Hosted Matrix Server

My friends and I initially relied on Discord for communication, but as privacy concerns surrounding the application emerged, we decided to transition to a self-hosted Matrix/TURN server for a more secure environment. To make this happen, I repurposed a laptop into a Proxmox server, configuring separate containers. NGINX served as a reverse proxy, while DuckDNS played its part as a dynamic DNS service. Another LXC container, running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, hosted our Matrix server.

Although the setup ran smoothly, there was a small hiccup. For voice chat functionality, I needed to establish a TURN server and integrate it into the Matrix server. To achieve this, I leveraged a DigitalOcean droplet for streamlined implementation.

Website Hosting

With this website, I ran through a bunch of ideas on how to host it. I thought of self hosting and then using Amazon to host it. I ended up deciding to just use DigitalOcean to host it and then utilizing cloudflare service as a DNS provider. I then copied over my html, css, and javascript website to the DigitalOcean droplet and that is how you are seeing this site today.

R&D Farms Emergency Plan

I was assigned in school to write up a comprehensive emergency plan for a corporation. I decided I wanted to give back to the farm that I grew up working on, so I composed a document that consisted of a lot of different emergency scenarios and the policies of how they would react. This project resulted in a 15+ page document.