Writing Assignment #3
E-Portfolio Reflective Essay
IDS 493
Dr. Kat LaFever
Edwin Wells
Introduction
The experiences gained through my academic studies, hands-on internship, and industry certifications all play pivotal roles in staging a platform for my future career in cyber security. While each element provides a unique purpose in my professional and personal growth, they are truly interconnected. Themes such as growth, skill acquisition, and real-world application are braided through my experiences, creating a unified journey that has prepared me for future success in my cyber security career. I will explore these commonalities running through my academics, internship, and industry certifications, describing how each piece contributes to my holistic understanding and offering valuable insights into my growing professional identity.
Academics
My academic path has served as a foundation for which my cyber security major is built upon. The coursework I have engaged with at Old Dominion University has introduced me to the theoretical concepts, frameworks, and principles that emphasize the field of cyber security. This technical knowledge is essential as a baseline for a substantial intellectual base for which my practical skills can be engrained. In many ways, Old Dominion Universities coursework has provided the critical thinking, core competencies, and interdisciplinary skills, which are critical for my future roles in the field of cyber security.
1. Building Core Competencies
Through the coursework at Old Dominion University, I have gained a deep understanding of core concepts essential to the field of cyber security. These include ideas of encryption, programming language, operating systems, and threat methodologies, just to name a few. Core understandings, such as the ones listed above, can be directly applied to real-world scenarios during my internship, personal projects, or future jobs. The ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the knowledge learned during my schooling is fundamental to both my internship and industry certifications, providing a staging area for knowledge to enhance my practical and professional skill sets.
2. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Critical thinking and problem solving is a highly emphasized commonality between academia and successive experiences. In my academic work, I was tasked with analyzing problems, evaluating policies, and constructing solutions based on provided or found evidence. These same skills have been vital in my internship setting, where me and my groupmates provided a risk assessment for the City of Suffolk and providing data-driven remediation. Similarly, my industry certifications focused on base line knowledge and applying analytical thinking along with deductive reasoning to demonstrate my abilities. Thus, the intellectual trials and tribulations of my coursework translate seamlessly into my ability to embrace and address problems in a professional setting.
3. Interdisciplinary Skills
Many modern disciplines require knowledge and expertise in more than one field of study, cyber security is no exception. Not only does cyber security require technical knowledge but the study of leadership, communication, computer science, law, criminal justice, forensics, and math can contribute to a broader and more in depth understanding of cyber operations. This interdisciplinary approach is valuable to integrate knowledge and skills learned in the classroom into my internship which requires multidisciplinary knowledge and soft skills. These soft skills include leadership, communication, active listening, and empathy to better interact with not only my groupmates, but also our clients. Similarly, for high level industrial certifications often require multidisciplinary technical knowledge and expertise, further supporting the importance of well-rounded knowledge. This blending of classroom knowledge from related fields of study allows me to be more independent, adaptable, and resourceful in all walks of life, not only professionally.
Internship
Internships have often been viewed as the bridge between the classroom and the workplace, where one can practice and demonstrate one’s knowledge from schooling to real-world situations. My internship through COVA CCI partnered with Valor Cybersecurity exposed me to industry-specific practices and technologies enriching my understanding of the field. This internship also allowed me to further develop the needed soft and networking skills which are just as important as technical knowledge.
1. Practical Application of Knowledge
One of the largest commonalities between my academia and internship has been the application of academic knowledge to real-world situations. At Old Dominion University, I learned about industry’s best practices and guidelines, such as the NIST, CISA, and ISO, however, I had to actively engage with such practices during my internship. For instance, during our risk assessment of the City of Suffolk some vulnerability recommendations were not scheduled for immediate remediation due to mitigating factors such as cost, coordination of entities, and downtime. This interaction of real-world simultaneous factors and academic knowledge is a critical aspect of my internship experience, refining and testing my understanding of concepts and ideas studied at Old Dominion University.
2. Skill Enhancement and Adaptation
My internship has also provided the opportunity to hone and expand skills learned during my program. Finding a balance between work done in a classroom setting and the real world has deepened my knowledge in response to the specific needs of a workplace. For example, in CYSE 301 – Cyber Operations and Techniques we learned about a tool called Tenable and its use to find vulnerabilities on a device however, using the same tool for the City of Suffolk required greater knowledge of certifications, filtering options, and what the numbers and vulnerabilities meant in their setting. This application not only sharpened my existing skills but has also helped to identify areas where I need further development. Furthermore, my internship has exposed and offered me the opportunity to perform tasks not covered in my coursework, enhancing my skill set and boosting my marketability for potential jobs.
3. Industry-Specific Knowledge and Soft Skills
The COVA CCI internship has exposed me to the norms and expectations for the field of cyber security. Not only developing my technical skills but also my soft skills such as communication, time management, leadership, and adaptability. These traits are critical to working effectively and efficiently within the field of cyber security. The ability to navigate office culture, communicate with multiple teams, and managing assignments under time and situational constraints has been a core part of this experiential learning. This form of on-the-job training has supplemented my academic knowledge and thus making me a more desirable and well-rounded job candidate.
4. Professional Networking and Mentorship
Another key benefit of my internship is the opportunity to network with professionals within cyber security. These connections can serve as valuable resources throughout my career, where I can seek advice and find new opportunities and avenues to explore. This contrasts with the individualistic nature of academic studies where my internship has been an immersive experience introducing me to the dynamics of leadership and communication within the field of cyber security. These relationships will extend well into the future, providing ongoing career support and future employment opportunities.
Certifications
Certifications serve to prove baseline skill sets or enhance into specialized areas of concentration. While academics provide broad foundational knowledge and internships offer the practical application of knowledge and gain experience, certifications allow me to enhance and give third party validation of my qualifications. Certifications often focus on a particular area of expertise that is relevant to a career path. In my case, certifications from CompTIA are usually standard, along with some form of cloud technology certification as cloud technology becomes more abundant and of the norm. These specialized certifications often provide industry-recognized credentials significantly boosting my resume and allowing me to be more competitive in the job market.
1. Focused knowledge Development
Contrasting academic knowledge, which covers a wide range of subjects within the field of cyber security, certifications will focus on a specific subject, granting deeper expertise and capabilities of the certified subject. For example, my certification in Linux+ by CompTIA builds upon the Linux coursework from Old Dominion University but dives deeper into the subject matter. CompTIA Security+ certification also proves industry level baseline knowledge gained from coursework at Old Dominion University. These industry-recognized credentials then significantly boost my resume by validating my skills and knowledge thus enhancing my resume and making me a more competitive job applicant.
2. Continuing Education and Professional Development
Certifications also demonstrate my commitment to independent and lifelong learning, which is crucial to the field of cyber security as it is constantly evolving. This commitment to ongoing education ensures that I will be up to date with relevant and current trends and information in cyber security. This commitment to my professional growth is not only important for my own development but also signals to employers that I am proactive and self-sufficient about the knowledge in the field. Continued learning through certifications thus reinforces what began in the classroom and continued through my internship into my future career.
3. Industry Recognition and Credibility
Employers often look for candidates who have specific certifications related to job positions. This is because having a specific certificate indicates to the employer that they at least have that knowledge set to perform the job. Thus, certifications add an extra layer of validity to my resume on top of showing my initiative for going beyond the baseline degree coursework. My certifications, like the Security+ or Python Certified Associate Programmer (PCAP), demonstrate and compliment the academic foundation from university and my practical experience earned through my internship.
Electronic Portfolio Process
In the process of integrating technology into reflection and life-long learning I have gained dynamic tools to capture and document my learning achievements through my time at Old Dominion University. This process has allowed me to showcase my academic, professional, and personal growth towards becoming a competent and well-rounded cyber security professional. Not only does this process serve as a showcase but it also helps me to authenticate my own confidence and skills as a cyber security expert. My electronic portfolio process has become a powerful tool for fostering self-directed learning while providing a deeper understanding of my academic and professional journey.
Conclusion
The common threads between my studies, internship, and certification are the predominant themes of skill acquisition and development, real-world application, and self-sufficient growth. Academia at Old Dominion University provided the foundation of knowledge, my COVA CCI internship provided hands-on practice and soft skill development, and my certifications prove my expertise and specialization. None of these elements are isolated experiences but rather interconnected and mutually reinforced, creating a strong and well-rounded foundation for future success. Ultimately, this integration helps prepare me to navigate the challenges and complexities of the modern field of cyber security, equipping me with the ability to succeed.