City Of Virginia Beach Internship Reflection Paper 2
Shaquile Garces-Phillips
Old Dominion University
CYSE 368 Cyber Security Internship
October 18, 2025

Throughout my time assisting HHS IT operations, I have had the opportunity to participate in multiple large-scale technology deployment projects that required both technical and strong organizational skills. These projects included workstation setups, printer replacements, and a comprehensive laptop refresh initiative that impacted a significant number of users across multiple sites. Each project was carefully planned, through coordination with different teams and end users, and a commitment to ensuring that all systems were fully functional before users began their work. These experiences not only strengthened my technical abilities but also enhanced my attention to detail and my ability to work efficiently under structured timelines.

In addition, during workstation deployments, I followed a consistent, well organized process to ensure that each setup was completed accurately and efficiently. This was done by preparing a deployment  bag and carefully packing all required components: one docking station, a keyboard and mouse, an Ethernet cable, two DisplayPort cables, a laptop, and both power supplies. This preparation allowed me to arrive at the site fully equipped to complete the deployment in a single visit, minimizing delays for the end user.

Once I arrive on site, I unpacked the equipment and set up the entire workstation. I connected each cable properly, verified display functionality on both monitors, tested the docking station ports, and ensured the laptop had the latest system updates and security configurations. My goal was to make sure the entire setup was fully operational so that the user could immediately begin working without experiencing connectivity or configuration issues. After confirming that the workstation was functioning as expected, I obtained the supervisor’s signature to officially verify the completion of the setup and our records.

Once I returned to the main worksite, I scanned the signed consent forms and uploaded them to the corresponding ServiceNow ticket to maintain a clear record of the completed deployment. Finally, I recorded all asset tag numbers into SharePoint. This documentation step was critical, as it ensured the organization maintained an accurate inventory of its deployed assets and could easily track equipment for future maintenance or replacement cycles.

Also, in addition to workstation deployments, me and my fellow coworkers and I conducted a large scale printer replacement project in which we replaced more than 30 printers across the city. This upgrade was initiated because the organization decided to switch manufacturers, transitioning from the previous printers to Ricoh models. The change required significant planning and coordination, as each user needed to have the new printer drivers installed on their computers and their badge access configured to use the new secure printing system.

Our team visited each user individually to install the Ricoh printer drivers, configure settings, and assist with badge setup. This hands-on approach ensured that users were fully prepared to print without encountering authentication issues or connectivity errors. For users who were not available during the scheduled setup, users would have to create IT tickets  to ensure they still received support. Depending on each situation, we provided assistance through multiple methods such as remoting into the user’s device to install the drivers, walking them through the setup process during a Microsoft Teams call, or meeting with them in person at a later time.

This flexible approach allowed us to support users with different schedules and technical comfort levels while ensuring that everyone transitioned smoothly to the new Ricoh printers. By the end of the project, all targeted users had functioning printers, and the city successfully completed its manufacturer transition with minimal downtime.

Lastly our final major initiative was laptop replacement project, which required extensive preparation before the actual deployment. In the weeks leading up to deployment, we contacted each teacher user and asked them to verify the asset numbers of their laptops and three docking stations to confirm they were included in the replacement list. Once verification was complete, we scheduled appointments to assist them in preparing their data for migration.

During these preparation sessions, we helped users back up their files to OneDrive, set up browser bookmarks, and verify that their OneDrive accounts were fully functional. This step was essential to ensure a smooth transition when their new laptops arrived. On the day of deployment, we coordinated with vendors at each job site to scan in the users old laptops and docking stations and replace them with new equipment.

Once users received their new laptops, we guided them through the restoration process. This included signing back into OneDrive to restore their backups, importing browser favorites into both Chrome and Edge, and verifying that critical applications such as Teams, Outlook, and other work tools were fully operational. We also made sure their printers and network connections were functioning correctly before concluding the session.

After completing each deployment, we returned to the worksite to update SharePoint. This involved recording both the old and new asset tags to maintain accurate inventory records. Because the new laptops and docking stations had different asset numbers, we also documented detailed information including workstation type, status, AD user, organizational unit, program, AD supervisor, purchase order number, asset type, model number, and city asset number. These details ensured that IT records remained precise and up to date.

By participating in these deployment projects, I gained valuable hands on experience in technical setup, user support, and inventory management. I learned how to work efficiently within structured processes while adapting to the needs of different users and environments. These experiences strengthened my ability to execute IT initiatives from start to finish, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruption to operations.