You're eager to excel in Information Security. How can you gain hands-on experience during an internship?

Going straight to the point I would say: During your InfoSec internship, get hands-on with real projects, shadow senior analysts, and use industry tools, practice in a personal lab too. Document your work, write reports, and stay updated with trends and certifications. Don’t just add contacts on LinkedIn, engage with them, attend InfoSec events, and meet senior pros to build real relationships. Stay curious, proactive, and seize every chance to grow your skills and network.

To gain hands-on experience during an internship, immerse yourself fully in every task and project. Volunteer for challenging assignments, even if they seem daunting at first. Ask questions and seek feedback to understand your role better and improve continuously. By staying proactive and engaged, you’ll maximize your learning and make a lasting impact.

To gain hands-on experience during an internship in Information Security by networking smartly, it is essential to actively engage with professionals in the field. Attend industry events, webinars, and conferences to meet experts and peers. Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals and join relevant groups. Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and introduce you to valuable contacts. Participate in online forums and discussions to share knowledge and learn from others. By building a strong network, you can gain insights, advice, and potential opportunities that will enhance your internship experience and future career in Information Security.

Participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions is another effective way to gain hands-on experience in information security during an internship. These competitions simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios, challenging participants to solve security-related problems and vulnerabilities. Engaging in CTF competitions will help you develop problem-solving skills, enhance your technical knowledge, and network with other cybersecurity enthusiasts, providing valuable experience for your future career in information security.

During an information security internship, gain experience by working closely with the seniors in configuring devices in the likes of firewalls, monitoring network traffic, and performing vulnerability assessments. Participate in audits, incident response drills, and learn from your mentor. Engage in projects and experiment in lab environments to build practical skills and deepen your understanding of security protocols.

Hands-on experience is cool and all, but let's be real, it's not the only thing that matters. Not everyone gets the chance to dive into setting up firewalls or writing scripts during an internship. Learning theory and getting your head around the concepts can be just as important. You can still build your chops through online courses, virtual labs, or even just tinkering at home. So, if you're not getting all the hands-on time you want, don't sweat it. There are plenty of ways to grow your skills without being right in the thick of things.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to learn from observation and applying the knowledge in practice. Pay attention to details and how experienced professionals handle their tasks. Observing their approach can provide valuable insights into industry standards and best practices. Whenever possible, work on real impactful projects rather than just administrative tasks. After completing the projects, take time to reflect on what you learned and how you can apply the knowledge in future projects or tasks.

It is strongly advised to take part in exercises that imitate cyberattacks, such as Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions. Developing successful defensive plans requires a practical grasp of adversary tactics, methods, and procedures (TTPs), which is what these simulations offer. By taking on these challenging tasks, you show that you are committed to become an expert in the field and improve your problem-solving abilities. Being proactive in your involvement not only helps you hone your skills but also shows prospective employers that you are dedicated to become a skilled security practitioner.

In my experience, once you're taking an internship in cybersecurity, it’s inevitable that you’ll gain some experience. However, to accelerate your growth, try to embrace one of the toughest tasks in the cybersecurity environment, but also one of the most important: analyzing SOC alerts. This will give you the opportunity to grow and gain a lot of experience

Na minha opini?o, o feedback de mentores é crucial para moldar a carreira de qualquer profissional. Aprender a aceitar críticas construtivas e reconhecer que o aprendizado é um processo contínuo s?o li??es fundamentais. Sou grata por cada mentor que investiu tempo e conhecimento em mim, e vejo claramente como isso impactou minha transi??o de carreira para a seguran?a da informa??o.

Feedback serves as an important point in terms of growth. Get feedback from colleagues and seniors which will help you boost your capabilities in cybersecurity.

Como sugest?o, durante o seu desenvolvimento profissional conquistar as certifica??es como: CISSP, CEH, CompTIA, ISO27001, CSA+, dentre outras. Será uma forma de demonstrar o seu crescimento profissional na área de seguran?a da informa??o.

In addition, take advantage of online platforms and resources to supplement your hands-on experience during an internship. Websites like Hack The Box, TryHackMe, and Cyber Range offer virtual labs and challenges to practice your cybersecurity skills. By regularly engaging with these platforms, you can further strengthen your technical abilities, stay updated on the latest security trends, and showcase your expertise to potential employers in the information security field.

Take careful notes on every project, including its scope, the methods used, and your unique contributions. Emphasize any technical expertise you may have and list any noteworthy accomplishments, such as effective threat mitigations or security improvements. This record shows your dedication to learning information security and your proactive attitude to doing so. It also gives a concrete representation of your practical experience. In order to effectively highlight your development and abilities to prospective employers, make sure that this paperwork is well-organized and updated on a regular basis.