Here's how you can navigate the challenges and reap the rewards of interning in Cybersecurity.

Nothing beats real world experience!! You can apply what you learned in class to real cybersecurity projects. Whether it’s finding threats, analyzing data, or creating security tools, practical experience is essential. Cybersecurity has various roles, from securing applications, responding to incidents, compliance. Make connections during your internship. These professionals can become mentors, offering career guidance and industry connections. Don’t be afraid to ask for explanation from your manager or teammates. Take on extra projects and be active in your approach. Get to know the company’s tools, processes, and approaches. Remember, interning in cybersecurity kickstarts your career and prepares you for success in this high-demand field.

Before starting your cybersecurity internship, it's important to get a good grasp of the industry's landscape. Learn about current threats like phishing and ransomware, as well as the latest defense strategies. From my experience as a cybersecurity analyst, having this foundational knowledge can really impress your colleagues and help you make valuable contributions right from the start. Cybersecurity requires continuous learning, so stay curious and take in as much as you can from every task and interaction.

To navigate challenges and reap rewards while interning in Cybersecurity, prioritize continuous learning of new techniques and tools. Build a network within the industry through events and groups. Show initiative by tackling challenging projects and offering creative security solutions. Seek mentorship from experienced professionals for career guidance. Be adaptable to rapid changes in the cybersecurity landscape. Develop effective communication skills to articulate security issues and proposed solutions. Understand and comply with relevant regulations and standards like GDPR and NIST. Embrace feedback, learn from mistakes, and strive for continual improvement.

Whether you're diving into penetration testing or learning to navigate security information and event management (SIEM) systems, aim to get practical experience with the tools and methods you've read about. Don't hesitate to request challenging projects—this is your opportunity to grow in a supportive setting where making mistakes is just part of the learning journey

Building a strong network is crucial in cybersecurity. During your internship, take the opportunity to connect with professionals who can provide valuable insights and potentially shape your career path. I’ve found that attending industry events, participating in online forums, and engaging with colleagues about their experiences can be incredibly beneficial. These connections can turn into mentorships, job offers, and collaborative projects long after your internship ends.

I still remember when I was new to Kali and I opened the VIM text editor and I couldn't even figure out how to exit. Still remember half the class laughing when I asked to be shown how to do that. Now, did that experience made a negative impact on my mindset and my mental health? No, obviously no. I just rolled with it and I did graduate with honors in the end so it didn't matter much. The point is, everyone is going to face challenges, what matters is how we deal with them. Never be afraid to ask for help, remember, everyone has to start at some point. No one is born an expert Hence, most people will be open to help.

Ever heard the saying old habits die hard? Now what if those old habits were bad habits? How would you even know if you were doing something wrong? What if you keep doing it unknowingly and now it is ingrained in your brain? This is where feedback from a mentor comes in, especially this early in ones career. Not only feedback can prevent all these from happening but it can also reinforce positive learning, boost self esteem and confidence and improve productivity. Remember, behind every successful player, is a coach.

A couple of months ago I started writing a journal. It was part of my self-improvement journey which is out of the scope of this topic, but it is relevant to reflection. In this day and age of technology, life moves fast, really fast. I just looked at the current year and can't believe it's 2024, years of COVID just skipped my mind. Hence, it is crucial for one to slow down and take time to reflect once in a while. Reflect on what you were a year ago and where you are now. Comparison is a thief of joy, do not compare yourself to others, compare yourself to yourself from the past. That's how one measures growth and how you will have clarity for the roadmap for the future.