CYSE 368 was my six credit internship where I worked full-time at Preferred Direct as a Mail Data Specialist and Analyst. This experience tied my academic work directly into real data operations. I handled PHI and PII daily, worked with tools like BCC Mail Manager and PostalOne, and followed compliance requirements from HIPAA, HITRUST, SOC 2, and internal security policies. The internship helped me take everything I learned in class and apply it in an actual business environment. I worked on large scale jobs for clients like Anthem and Patient News and learned how data accuracy, security, and workflow management all fit together. This course showed me what cybersecurity looks like outside a lab and how much responsibility comes with handling sensitive information.

This internship shaped my career more than any single class. It showed me that cybersecurity is not only technical. It is also compliance, risk management, data handling, and teamwork. I learned how real companies protect data, manage logs, troubleshoot issues, and work with outside vendors like HRCT and USPS. This experience pushed me toward the GRC path because I saw firsthand how policies, security controls, and daily operations connect. It also helped me build confidence, improve my communication skills, and understand how my work impacts clients and large organizations. CYSE 368 confirmed that I want to pursue governance, risk, and compliance long term, and it gave me the foundation I needed to step into higher level roles after graduation.

Artifact 1 – Review Final