As I conclude this chapter, I want to share my final thoughts regarding my experience in the CoVA CCI program. From start to finish, it has been an incredible experience, one that has allowed me to interface with people of a certain caliber and learn from them and their experiences. I am very grateful for having been chosen to take part in the Spring 2025 internship program because it has helped me to improve my skills, involving both my cybersecurity skills and personal ones.

As a matter of fact, the internship is a program that provides a lot of hands-on experience because we had the opportunity to work with businesses, assess them, and provide consulting services to help them improve their cybersecurity. For this reason, the internship demands that students, like me, develop professionalism, empathy, and reliability on a large scale. During the program, we interacted with businesses that relied on us for our cybersecurity knowledge and consulting skills.

In fact, an aspect that was very important for me was being able to understand the business I had the opportunity to work for, know the risks associated with that specific business (global satellite communications sector), understand how the business was constructed, and come up, with the rest of my team, with aimed cybersecurity solutions to help enhance security measures. If I were to do the project all over again, I wouldn’t change anything, and not because it was perfect but because even if I made some mistakes, I was able to confront myself with professors and friends in the program and learn from them.

Furthermore, when we initially completed all the different agreements, such as the MOA (Memorandum of Agreement), we had to fill in a section titled “The primary objectives for this internship.” My objectives were the following:

  1. Use the material studied in class and put it into practice.
  2. Work successfully with teammates.
  3. Identify vulnerabilities and be capable of coming up with adequate solutions.
  4. Learn the pivotal needs an organization needs to avoid cyber risks.
  5. Gain as much experience as possible.

I am very happy and proud to say that I have achieved all of these objectives. The material studied in class, including the guest speakers we had, has been fundamental in making my learning experience easier. Thanks to the speakers, like Dr. Baaki, for example, I was able to think out of the box and get out of my comfort zone. This, in my opinion, is key, especially when needing to confront yourself with new people, like meeting the companies for the first time.

To add to this, I was also able to successfully work with my team. Everyone was very supportive and helpful, and even if we weren’t always on the same page, we established a great relationship.

I was also able to conduct thorough research of my company, identify vulnerabilities, and come up with aimed solutions. Not to mention that I have achieved a clearer knowledge of what the most important cybersecurity aspects a business are. Moreover, thanks to all the hands-on involvement, I was able to get the best learning experience. I’m glad to say that the internship fulfilled all my goals.

Talking about the most exciting aspects, I would need to say getting to meet my company, knowing their history, and getting to work with and for them. Knowing that our help as cybersecurity consultants can help a company of such importance like CM Technology Inc. was truly inspiring and motivating. Another exciting aspect was putting together the final report and presentation to then showcase our work to the company and receive their feedback.

This internship has improved me as a cybersecurity student and has taught me a lot. I’ve learned how to analyze a business, understand its needs, empathize with the client, advise them on the adequate resources and cybersecurity measures to take into consideration, and work on my confidence. I’m certain that this program will influence the rest of my college time at ODU. In fact, I end the internship with a greater understanding of cybersecurity, making me analyze cybersecurity from several angles instead of merely focusing on the security.

I believe that the internship will positively influence my future professional path because it provides students with a toolbox of skills and insights.

If I were to suggest something to make this program even better, it would be including a section at the beginning of the semester where we go over a more in-depth analysis of how to conduct risk assessments. On the other hand, one thing I really encourage is to keep inviting the different speakers because with their stories and insights, they have been incredibly helpful.

Lastly, yet importantly, to future interns, I encourage you to take this opportunity very seriously. Work hard from the beginning and be always ready to learn new things. I would also recommend starting the program with an open mind. You’re not always going to have things flowing the way you’d wish them to, and that’s normal; it’s just like giving you a taste of what the real world, outside of school, is. Be empathetic with your business, show your respect, and make sure you always agree with your teammates.

Finally, enjoy every bit of this opportunity.

I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone in the program. It has been a pleasure working with you all!