IDS 493 Reflection
Introduction
Hello, my name is Ethan Cassidy and I am currently a cybersecurity major and information technology minor at Old Dominion University. This portfolio will go over the technical, problem solving and professional skills I have developed throughout my time and course work I have learnt while at this university. Through the coursework I have had cybersecurity labs, leadership roles and realworld experiences. I have definitely strengthened and sharpened my abilities in cybersecurity operations, critical thinking and leadership. Cybersecurity is a field that requires much more than technical skills and knowledge alone. Throughout my degree program I have learnt how communication and leadership are just as important as technical skills. My experiences that go inside and out of the classroom have allowed me to apply concepts learned in coursework to real world situations involving networking and security operations. This reflection demonstrates three major skills that are important to my future career goals in cybersecurity. These skills are technical cybersecurity skills, critical thinking and problem solving, and leadership and communication. The artifacts included throughout this portfolio represent assignments, labs, projects, research papers and professional experience that have helped me grow academically and professionally.
Technical Cybersecurity Skills
Throughout my cybersecurity coursework and lab experiences, I developed strong technical skills related to networking and Linux systems. These skills were strengthened through assignments involving wireshark, Nmap, metasploit, virtual machines and VPN configuration. One artifact that demonstrates my technical cybersecurity abilities is my Wireshark network analysis lab. During this assignment, I used Wireshark to capture and analyze network traffic between virtual machines within a cybersecurity environment. I identified protocols such as DNS and FTP while examining packet behavior and network communication. This assignment strengthened my understanding of how networks operate and how cybersecurity analysts investigate suspicious activity and traffic. At first, understanding the different protocols and packet information was difficult because there were many details displayed within the captures. Over time I learned how to filter traffic properly and focus on important information within the network data. This experience taught me patience and attention to detail while improving my understanding of network security analysis. Another artifact that demonstrates my technical skill is my OpenVPN cloud server project. During the assignment I created and configured a Linux-based VPN server using google cloud platform. I learned how to configure server settings and generate VPN client files. Completing this assignment required me to troubleshoot configuration problems and learn how secure remote communication systems tend to operate. This project helped me better understand how organizations use VPN technology to protect remorse users and sensitive data. My metasploit vulnerability testing assignment is another example of technical skill development. During this lab, I used Metasploit within a virtual lab to test vulnerabilities on Windows systems. This assignment helped me understand how ethical hacking tools work. It also helped me learn the importance of ethical responsibility within cybersecurity. Learning how vulnerabilities work and are exploited allowed me to better understand defensive techniques. In addition to my coursework, my internship experience at IPConfigure helped me apply technical concepts within a professional setting. While working with servers and Linux systems I gained hands on experiences by configuring and building these servers and working with new systems I had not seen before. I also worked with command lines while handling export workflow that involved the servers. This experience showed me real IT world problems and gave me more experience with troubleshooting. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework also connects closely to the technical skills developed throughout my coursework. The framework explains how organizations identify and defend against cybersecurity threats. Learning about this framework helped me understand how cybersecurity relates to large corporations. My coursework and labs reflected on many of these concepts by teaching me how security operations work in a professional environment.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Cybersecurity workers deal with problems every day. They have to figure out how to stop attacks and protect systems from threats. Throughout my degree I improved my critical thinking skills through research papers and cybersecurity labs. These experiences helped me learn how to look at problems carefully and find solutions. One artifact that shows my critical thinking is my research paper on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. In this paper I explained how organizations use security practices to manage cyber risks. I learned how companies build security plans and protect important information. This assignment also helped me understand how cybersecurity decisions can affect businesses and even regular people. Another artifact that shows problem solving skills is my paper about the social impacts of cybersecurity policies. Before this assignment I mostly looked at cybersecurity as something technical. While working on this project I learned that cybersecurity also affects privacy and society. I learned how government policies and digital security can affect people in everyday life. This assignment helped me understand why cybersecurity needs more than just technical knowledge. Research by Burton and Lain also explains that cybersecurity affects society and public policy. Their research connects to what I learned in this assignment because cybersecurity problems can impact both technology and people. Reading about these ideas helped me netter understand the bigger picture of cybersecurity. My ethical hacking labs and vulnerability assignments also improved my critical thinking skills. During these labs I had to troubleshoot networking problems and analyze vulnerabilities using tools like Nmap and Metasploit. Sometimes the labs did not work the first time so I had to keep testing different solutions. These experiences taught me patience and showed me that cybersecurity problems take practice and persistence. My interdisciplinary coursework also helped me improve my thinking skills. My classes focused on technology but they also included ethics and communication. Because of this I learned how to look at cybersecurity problems from another perspective instead of only focusing on the solution I was working towards. Another important thing I learned throughout my degree program in cybersecurity was how to connect my major with everyday life. Before starting my major I mostly thought cybersecurity was only about computers and hacking. As I continued through my classes I realized that it involves responsibility and protecting people’s privacy. Cybersecurity professionals help organizations protect people’s information but they also help regular people from threats online. Learning about these topics helped me understand how important cybersecurity is in today’s world. My coursework also helped me become more confident working through difficult problems. Some assignments and labs were challenging at first especially when virtual machines or networking systems did not work correctly. Instead of giving up I learned how to troubleshoot problems step by step and test different solutions until I finally understood it. These experiences helped me become more patient and improved my ability to solve technical problems more independently. These experiences also helped me understand that cybersecurity workers need to keep learning because technology constantly changes. Every lab and assignment introduced new tools and new situations that required problem solving. This helped me become more adaptable and prepared me for future careers where cybersecurity professionals must respond to new threats and challenges regularly.
Leadership and Communication
Leadership and communication are very important in cybersecurity because professionals need to work with teams and explain any information that is technical clearly. Throughout my classes and professional experience I improved my communication skills and learned how to work better with others. One artifact that shows these skills is my internship reflection from IPConfigure. During my internship I worked in a professional IT environment with servers and Linux systems. I learned how important communication and teamwork are in technical workplaces. My managers gave instructions and guidance but also trusted employees to complete tasks independently. This experience helped me become more confident in professional environments. Another artifact that shows leadership skills is my role as Vice President of Finance for Sigma Phi Epsilon. In this position I manage budgeting and organizational communication. This role helped improve my leadership and time management skills. Balancing this responsibility with school and my internship taught me how to stay organized and handle multiple responsibilities at once. My presentations and group projects also helped improve my communication skills. In cybersecurity, it is important to explain technical topics to people who may not understand technology. Throughout presentations and written essays I became more confident discussing technical information in a professional way. There is research by Lipovac and Babac to explain technical topics to people who may not understand technology. This connects directly to my experiences because many of my assignments and internship tasks require both technical skills and communication skills.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my degree along with interdisciplinary courses helped me develop technical cybersecurity skills. Through coursework and internships I gained experiences in every which way that prepared me for future careers in cybersecurity and information technology. One of the biggest lessons I learnt throughout my degree is that cybersecurity requires more than technical knowledge. Cybersecurity professionals also need communication skills and problem solving skills. My coursework helped me understand how cybersecurity affects both organizations and society. The artifacts in this portfolio represent my academic and professional growth. Each assignment and experience helped me improve my understanding of cybersecurity while also preparing for real world situations or work environments. As I continue these last few months of my college career I plan to keep building these skills. My goal is to pursue a career in cybersecurity where I can use both my technical knowledge and professional experiences to help protect systems and information for anyone.
References
Cyber Security: It’s Not Just about Technology the Five Most Common Mistakes, assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/pdf/2014/05/cyber-security-not-just-technology.pdf. Accessed 8 May 2026.
(PDF) Desecuritising Cybersecurity: Towards a Societal Approach, www.researchgate.net/publication/347631025_Desecuritising_cybersecurity_towards_a_societal_approach. Accessed 8 May 2026. (PDF) Desecuritising cybersecurity: towards a societal approach
Lipovac, I., & Bagić Babac, M. (2021). Content analysis of job advertisements for identifying
employability skills. Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 19(4), 511–522.
“Reading & Using Job Ads.” Reading & Using Job Ads – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University, owl.purdue.edu/owl/job_search_writing/skilled_labor_job_search_resources/reading_and_using_job_ads/index.html. Accessed 8 May. 2026. Reading & Using Job Ads – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0, nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/CSWP/NIST.CSWP.29.pdf. Accessed 8 May. 2026. Cybersecurity Framework | NIST