As an intern at the Old Dominion University Cybersecurity Clinic, I was able to learn about applying cyber security principles through hands-on consulting activities. I had the opportunity to collaborate with other individuals in assessing security posture of organizations, identifying weaknesses and proposing solutions to improve their security posture as per recommended standards, for example the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

The most significant activity I engaged in during my internship was being able to provide consulting activities with regard to cybersecurity. I assisted with carrying out a thorough analysis to determine some areas that needed improvement including but not limited to access controls, data security measures, network security, and organizational policies. We identified areas of strength within the organization but also weaknesses like lack of user awareness and training programs.

Based on our observations and assessments, recommendations were made with an emphasis on improving the organization’s security posture, especially with regard to cybersecurity awareness training. This would reduce threats like phishing or social engineering attack as well as other issues related to the security policies and controls.

Overall, this experience helped me understand how to present security information to stakeholders in clear terms and develop skills in performing risk assessments.