Artifact #1

This artifact is from a lab where I learned how steganography works by hiding and extracting data inside an image file. Using the Steghide tool, I embedded a secret message into a BMP image and later extracted it again using the correct passphrase. Even though the process looks simple, it helped me understand how attackers can disguise malicious data or exfiltrate information without anyone noticing. Working through this lab showed me how important it is for security analysts to recognize when files might contain more than they seem, especially in situations where hidden communication channels or covert data transfers could be involved. Doing all of this strengthened my understanding of how network security and data protection relate to real world techniques in both cyberattacks and digital forensics

Artifact #2

In this paper, I reviewed the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy and looked at how the United States plans to strengthen national network defenses. Writing this helped me understand how cybersecurity works on a much larger scale than just individual systems. I learned how the federal government approaches issues like protecting critical infrastructure, preventing cyberattacks, improving technology design, and working with international partners. This assignment showed me how technical decisions connect to policy and how important it is for cybersecurity professionals to understand the bigger picture behind network security planning. It also helped me appreciate how much coordination and responsibility is involved in defending modern digital environments.

Artifact #3

This artifact comes from a paper where I explored how SCADA systems support essential services such as electricity, water treatment, and transportation. Before researching this topic, I did not realize how much responsibility these systems have or how exposed they can become when older equipment and modern cyber threats overlap. In the paper, I explain how SCADA systems function, why they face certain vulnerabilities, and the security measures that help keep them protected, including redundancy, alarms, and industrial firewalls. This assignment helped me understand network security on a larger scale and showed me how cyberattacks on critical infrastructure can impact entire communities, not just individual systems.