I am currently interning as an IT specialist at Resolute Building Company, a construction
company based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This was an amazing opportunity to gain practical experience in my field. My main goal was to train the company on cyber challenges they may face in the
workplace, teach healthy web practices and skills, discover and correct cyber deficiencies in the
the company, and gain exposure to real-world cybersecurity challenges, including participating in
security incident response and resolution.
The Resolute Building Company has been so supportive of me and it’s been amazing to have such great women with me.
My Introduction to Resolute Building Company
Currently, I work full-time as an IT specialist at Resolute Building Company, a regional
commercial General Contracting company based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The company
was founded in 1984 with a mission to provide exceptional value, construction excellence, and
superior customer service in all aspects of construction. They specialize in projects in various
market sectors such as living, hospitality, education, medical, retail, and senior living. I started
working here in March 2022.
In my position, I manage the network, server, technology acquisition/dispersion, software
acquisition, and troubleshooting for the company, including Sage Accounting, Sage Estimating,
eTakeoff, Bridge, Office 365 Suite, Phoenix Scheduling, Teams, Bluebeam, Adobe, HH2, and
HH2 Document Flow. I also handle office admin duties, such as account creation on-prem and in
the cloud, company-wide cyber policy creation and implementation, and SharePoint intranet
creation. I have implemented customizable VR tours of the construction sites for buyers using
Enscape and Revit and spearheaded paperless billing with HH2 Document flow and the
transition to SharePoint, One Drive, and cloud backups. Additionally, I have implemented cyber
training and cyber-attack simulations, created a cyber emergency response plan and Information
protection plan, and manage the incident response process.
What I Do
As an IT specialist at Resolute Building Company, I have been assigned various duties and
projects to manage the technology infrastructure and support the company’s operations. One of
my major responsibilities is managing the company’s network, server, and technology acquisition
and dispersion. This includes managing and troubleshooting software such as Sage Accounting,
Sage Estimating, eTakeoff, Bridge, Office 365 Suit, Phoenix scheduling, Teams, Bluebeam,
Adobe, HH2, and HH2 Document Flow. This work is necessary for the business because it
ensures that all the technology used by the company is running smoothly, efficiently, and
effectively.
Another major responsibility that I have is Office 365 administrator, including account
creation both on-prem and in the cloud. This involves creating and managing user accounts for
various software and cloud-based applications, and this work is important for the company
because it ensures that everyone has access to the tools they need to do their job.
One of the most significant projects that I worked on during my internship was the
creation and implementation of a company-wide Cyber policy. This project involved researching
industry best practices, identifying potential threats, and creating policies and procedures to
safeguard against cyber threats. This project was necessary for the business because it helped to
ensure that the company’s data and systems were secure and protected from potential
cyber-attacks.
Another project that I have worked on is the creation of a Share point intranet. This
project was important because it provided a centralized location for employees to access
company information, policies, and procedures. It also allowed for better communication and
collaboration between team members, which is essential for the success of the business. Utilizing
Sharepoint also put policies on document sharing which was helpful for the security of this
company. I have spearheaded the transition to SharePoint, and One Drive, and used cloud backups
instead of on-prem storage and backup. This image shows the share point intranet hub I made to organize all data and files and policies for the company. I made this after I m moved them to the cloud. The site helped with the internal availability of the information. The move to the cloud also helped with the availability and security of information because it eliminated the VPN
I have spearheaded the transition to paperless billing with HH2 Document flow. Using
this process has sped up the process of approving invoices and RFI’s and enhanced the overall
security of the process. There are no more passing paper bills around and laying them out in the
open on people’s desks. It has also tremendously decreased the paper usage of the company
which in turn has cut the printing costs.
One of the most exciting projects that I have worked on was the implementation of
customizable VR tours of construction sites for buyers using Enscape and Revit. This project
was necessary for the business because it helped to enhance the customer experience and provide
a more immersive and engaging way for buyers to see and experience the company’s
construction projects.
VR link to 3D room. With VR glasses and the right software, you can walk through the building.
Livingroom
Bedroom
I have also implemented Cyber training and Cyber Attack simulations and created a cyber emergency response plan and an Information protection plan. These projects were necessary for the business because they helped to streamline processes, reduce costs, and increase security and efficiency. Overall, my internship duties and projects were vital to the success of Resolute Building Company, and I am proud to have contributed to the company’s growth and success.
What I Learned at Resolute Building Company
Since I held this job before pursuing my degree, it’s hard for me to differentiate what I
learned in class and what I learned on the job. But I have been able to apply my cybersecurity
knowledge and skills to ensure the company’s security and protect its data. Before starting my
degree, I had a basic understanding of cybersecurity, which included the importance of keeping
software updated and not clicking on links in emails. However, working at Resolute has allowed
me to expand my knowledge and develop new skills, including implementing a company-wide
cyber policy, creating a cyber emergency response plan, and conducting cyber-attack
simulations.
One of the key skills I had to learn on the job was how to sandbox and open email links
that people needed to check. This was important for me to learn as it allowed me to safely check
links without compromising the security of the company’s network. Additionally, I was
responsible for training employees on how to identify and avoid phishing attempts. I conducted
phishing simulations to test and train employees and sent out phishing awareness and trainings.
During my time at Resolute, I had to recover files that were deleted by a malicious
employee. Although I had some prior experience with incident response, I asked my professor
for tips on how to read the corrupt files I recovered. This experience taught me the importance of
having a backup plan in place and reinforced the significance of incident response planning.
Overall, my on-the-job experience has enhanced my understanding of cybersecurity and
its importance in today’s business environment. Working in a practical setting has allowed me to
apply my knowledge and develop new skills, which will be invaluable as I continue my career in
this field.
Achieving Learning Outcomes
During my internship at Resolute Building Company, I had several learning outcomes
that I hoped to achieve. These included training the company on cyber challenges they may face
in the workplace, teaching healthy web practices and skills, discovering and correcting cyber
deficiencies in the company, and exposing myself to real-world cybersecurity challenges,
including participation in security incident response and resolution.
Overall, my internship at Resolute fulfilled these goals. As the IT specialist, I was
responsible for a plethora of responsibilities and through these experiences, I was able to train
the company on cyber challenges and teach healthy web practices and skills.
I also had the opportunity to discover and correct cyber deficiencies in the company.
When I first started, I was given the freedom to set up the position since it was a new role for
Resolute. My first action was to enforce two-factor auth on all email accounts, patch outdated
software, and update devices using IPV 3, and I was able to take the position where I wanted it,
and I have been continually refining it ever since.
Through my work, I gained exposure to real-world cybersecurity challenges, including
participating in security incident response and resolution. For example, I recovered files that
were deleted maliciously by an employee, and I had to write a SWAT analysis and incident
response plan when filing for cyber insurance. Overall, my internship at Resolute was an amazing resume-building position, and it
allowed me to apply what I had learned in school directly to my work from the start of my
education. I had a great experience at Resolute and was able to achieve my learning outcomes
while making significant contributions to the company.
Take Aways
Throughout my internship experience at Resolute Building Company, I have gained
invaluable skills and knowledge that I will carry with me throughout my college years and
professional career. One of my main takeaways from this internship is the importance of the
practical application of skills I have learned in school. It has helped me understand the concepts
more effectively and made me confident in my abilities to tackle real-world challenges.
This internship experience has helped me realize the importance of a healthy work-life
balance. I have learned that taking scheduled breaks and being organized are essential for
productivity and staying focused. This experience has forced me to become ultra-organized and
plan out my time effectively to balance my work, school, part-time military job, and personal
life. In terms of how this internship will influence my future professional path, I know I would
like to pursue something in Digital Forensics because of my time at Resolute Building Company.
Overall, my internship at Resolute Building Company has been an irreplaceable experience, and
I am grateful for the opportunities it has provided me. I have developed a strong relationship
with the company, and I look forward to applying the skills and knowledge I have gained in my
future professional endeavors.