Arica Willis

February 30, 2025

Reflection Paper #1

During the first 50 hours of my internship, I worked as a cybersecurity engineer, collaborating with my team to develop a comprehensive network security plan. Our primary goal was to create the security posture of the website we are creating by addressing vulnerabilities and implementing best practices.

At the beginning of the project, we focused on securing the database, as it contained critical and sensitive information. We conducted a thorough risk assessment to identify potential threats, such as SQL injection attacks, unauthorized access, and data leaks. To mitigate these risks, we implemented strong authentication mechanisms, role-based access control (RBAC), and encryption protocols to protect data at rest and in transit. Additionally, we enforced regular security audits to ensure compliance with industry standards and organizational policies.

Beyond database security, we expanded our plan to include network segmentation, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and firewall configurations to prevent external threats. We also worked on establishing incident response protocols to quickly detect, analyze, and remediate security breaches. Furthermore, we conducted security awareness training for employees to minimize risks related to phishing and social engineering attacks. Once we wrote it out and share with the rest of the team because some have never even seen a security plan before.

Throughout this internship, I am gaining hands-on experience in cybersecurity frameworks, vulnerability assessments, and secure coding practices. I have also been improving my ability to collaborate in a team environment, analyze security threats, and implement effective countermeasures. This experience so far has just reinforced my passion for cybersecurity and provided me with valuable skills that I can apply in my future career.