Category Archives: Cybersecurity

Business Engagement, Career & Leadership Readiness Institute, Career & Technical Education, CLRI, Community Partnerships, Cybersecurity, Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Industry Partnerships, Mentoring, Networking, NOVA IET

CLRI Wraps Up Fall Cohort with Executive Mentoring and Networking Event

 

The Fall 2024 IET Career and Leadership Institute (CLRI), led by M. Andy Chaves and Sedrick Settle, concluded on October 24, 2024, with an Executive Mentoring and Networking event at the Woodbridge campus.

This season, 14 students completed the CLRI program, finishing a five-week journey that began in September. Participants completed six workshops covering critical topics such as leadership, effective communication, building your personal brand, how to write a technical resume, and trends in IT careers.

The Fall 2024 CLRI cohort also participated in site tours and a mock interviewing event coordinated with AWS. Through these robust and enriching experiences, students gained interpersonal skills, practiced networking—many through LinkedIn connections—and built confidence.

The program concluded with an executive networking event featuring 11 leaders from top companies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), CoreSite, Digital Realty, Google, Iron Mountain, Meerkat Cyber, Red Hat, Suffolk Construction, and U.S. Transactions Corp.

To cap off the event, mentors and students received recognition, and participants stayed an extra hour to connect with industry professionals.

Student Feedback on CLRI

CLRI students shared their excitement for the program:

  • “The CLRI is an amazing experience. It opened my eyes to many new ideas and opportunities.”
    —Ilham Data Center Operations
  • “CLRI is a great foundation for students—it gives clear direction, teaches new skills, introduces people from diverse backgrounds, and offers unique experiences. I highly recommend it.” —Anchinalush, Cybersecurity and Health Science
  • “The program is very exciting. I’m glad I joined after Andy and Sedrick introduced it to our class. It was my first time experiencing data centers.”
    —Jack, Data Center Operations
  • “CLRI was fantastic. I’ll graduate in December, ready to apply everything I’ve learned. Andy and Sedrick bring together amazing people to support us.”
    —Mary, Cybersecurity
  • “This experience has been invaluable for my first semester at NOVA, providing me with valuable connections.”
    —James, Data Center Operations 

Insights from Industry Professionals

CLRI also granted students valuable perspectives from experienced leaders:

  • Steve Jolly, Data Center Cluster Manager, Amazon Web Services:
    “A great attitude is everything. Technical skills can be taught, but attitude and behavior are much harder to change. Curiosity, self-improvement, and a bias for action truly make a difference.”
  • Chris Haigh, CEO & Certified CMMC Assessor, Meerkat Cyber, LLC:
    “Find something that fascinates you, pursue certifications, and engage with it daily. Always keep learning.”
  • John Limbacher, Market Technical Manager, Digital Realty:
    “Building gigawatt campuses and working with high-tech solutions for companies like Nvidia—there’s a lot of excitement in the data center industry.”
  • Miguel Ramos, Sr. Data Center Manager, CoreSite:
    “At CoreSite, we train interns in security, telecom, and facilities—critical components of our operations.”
  • Todd Byington, Critical Facilities Manager, Iron Mountain:
    “Data centers offer roles in everything from facilities operations and project management to sales and security, providing a wide range of opportunities.”
  • Wade Tetsuka, President of U.S. Transactions Corp:
    “Our software company collaborates with Microsoft partners. For those considering entrepreneurship in IT or software, it’s a rewarding path.”

Congratulations to the students and thank you to the executives who contributed to the success of the program.  We hope to see more students in the Spring ’25 CLRI program.

Cybersecurity, Student Success

Cybersecurity Month Student Spotlight

Afraz Sakib, Cybersecurity Student

“One of the most fascinating aspects of digital security is the constant emergence of new attacks, vulnerabilities, and insights. We are always learning innovative methods for both breaching and defending systems against the varied strategies hackers use daily.”

In 2020, Afraz Sakib moved from Bangladesh to the United States, eager to build a career in cybersecurity. The following year, he began studying network administration and cybersecurity. For Afraz, choosing NOVA was a clear decision, thanks to several cousins who had graduated from the college and highly recommended its programs. By December 2022, Afraz had earned an Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity and a Career Studies Certificate in Network Administration.

Reflecting on his academic journey, Afraz shares his appreciation for the program’s hands-on approach. “I loved all of my digital security courses,” he says. “Most of my professors work in the industry, so they incorporated real-life examples and scenarios into their teaching. I would absolutely recommend NOVA’s program because it’s hands-on and builds a strong foundation.”

Beyond the classroom, Afraz took advantage of NOVA’s many extracurricular opportunities. He particularly enjoyed participating in cybersecurity competitions such as the National Cyber League, Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Fusion, a Microsoft Tournament, and Def Con—events that not only honed his skills but also expanded his network within the field.

While Afraz did not pursue a formal internship, he gained valuable real-world experience through a class project that involved conducting security assessments for two nonprofit organizations in Loudoun County. Due to a non-disclosure agreement, the names of the organizations remain confidential.

Afraz and his classmates collaborated with these groups to evaluate their security infrastructure. They found that the nonprofits, despite serving low-income individuals and managing millions of dollars in donations, had significant vulnerabilities in their systems. The project came about after a hacking incident at the parent company of one of these organizations, prompting them to reach out to NOVA for help. This experience further solidified Afraz’s practical understanding of cybersecurity risks and solutions.

It was through his experience at NOVA and the mentorship of Professor Kwabena Konadu that Afraz secured a role as a lab support specialist in the IT departments at both the Manassas and Woodbridge campuses. His day-to-day work involves assisting students in the labs and supporting professors with various projects and courses.

“NOVA played a huge role in preparing me for this position,” Afraz says. “I acquired most of my technical skills here. No matter where I graduate from in the future, the foundation was built at NOVA, and I respect that.”

As a seasoned student now offering advice to others, Afraz emphasizes the importance of perseverance. “Do your best and keep working until you solve the problem. Each challenge is the first step in overcoming a barrier—apply what you learn to the next.”

In addition to his part-time role at NOVA, Afraz balances two more jobs: serving as a lead instructor for CyberGuardian.courses and working full-time as a Data Center Operations Engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS). His dedication to the field is reflected in his commitment to continuous learning.

Currently enrolled in an online program at Western Governors University, Afraz plans to graduate this year with two bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity and information assurance. He’s already setting his sights on the future, considering master’s programs at George Mason University or Georgia Tech to further advance his expertise.

Looking ahead, Afraz is excited about what’s to come. He will become a U.S. citizen next year, a milestone that will allow him to pursue a security clearance and fulfill his ambition to work as a cyber analyst for the government. In the long term, he hopes to complete his master’s degree and eventually return to NOVA, this time as a professor, where he can share his knowledge with the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Cybersecurity, Uncategorized

Cybersecurity Month Faculty Spotlight

Kwabena Konadu, Cybersecurity Faculty

“I feel like I’m called to help lead the next generation of workers, especially in IT and cybersecurity. I love seeing young people eager for knowledge. I’m always here for my students—they can ask me anything.”

Kwabena Konadu serves as the Chair of NOVA’s Cybersecurity A.A.S. program, alongside his roles as an associate professor at NOVA and an adjunct professor at The George Washington University. With a background in electrical engineering, he spent 13 years in the space industry working on space applications as a consultant. After the company he worked for closed, he knew it was time to explore a new path.

“The interesting thing is, I’ve always loved computers,” he says.“This is a story I’ve shared many times. The first time I saw a computer was when I was 13. Around 33 years ago, my family moved from Ghana to the United States. My dad nudged me toward engineering, but he also taught me how to build a computer during our first year here. I always knew I’d return to my passion for computers.”

In 2008, while working as a cybersecurity consultant, Kwabena began teaching part-time IT workforce classes at NOVA. He also founded a club that provides students with access to computers and training in various digital applications. By 2020, inspired by his participants and growing interest in digital security, he assumed the leadership role of the cybersecurity track at NOVA.

His responsibilities include course development, guiding competition teams, and instructing in hands-on, practical skills. He leads students in the Year Up United program, which helps them transition into IT fields, particularly cyber defense. After completing the semester, participants move on to six-month internships with companies and earn certifications. Kwabena has been committed to Year Up United for seven years. In addition, he leads courses on computer hardware, software, and information security.

In NOVA’s cybersecurity curriculum, students use cloud-based, open-source tools—resources commonly used by cyber attackers. “It’s vital for learners to understand the methods and tactics that attackers employ,” he says. The program also partners with major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft, and students receive hands-on training with forensic tools to image hard drives.

The program’s designation as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) is a testament to its rigor. “Being CAE-designated grants us access to additional resources and ensures our learners are prepared for roles in digital security,” he explains.

The success of this initiative is clear. About a year and a half ago, Walmart’s cybersecurity department invited 10 NOVA students to interview, along with candidates from across the country. One of them, Sandra, advanced to a second interview and eventually secured a job offer.

Recently, a former student named Reza, who completed his master’s in cybersecurity and is now preparing for a Ph.D., returned to thank Kwabena for his mentorship and offered to volunteer his time. “I told him, ‘Please send me your resume. You’re exactly the kind of person we want teaching in our program.’ That was a moving moment.”

Kwabena offers valuable advice for aspiring professionals in cybersecurity: “Get involved. Collaborate with other organizations. You can’t learn everything in the classroom, but by joining clubs and networking, you’ll develop your skills and form connections. Most of what I know about cybersecurity came from engaging with others and participating in activities.”

Looking forward, he emphasizes the growing impact of artificial intelligence. “AI is about to revolutionize the world—and our academic programs. People should start learning about AI at an early age, including the ethical implications. AI’s role in cybersecurity is about to take off, and we have no choice but to prepare.”

With October marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month, he offers practical tips for staying safe online: “Make sure you have strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Don’t share your passwords, and always back up your data. Be cautious about sharing personal information online, and avoid using public hotspots unless you’re using a VPN. It’s critical to protect your digital footprint and avoid compromising your identity.”

Kwabena’s commitment to his students and the cybersecurity field is evident—he’s preparing the next generation not just for jobs, but for success in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Internships, Network Engineering, NOVA IET, Student Success, Student to Workforce

NOVA Student Success Spotlight In IET: Muhammed Saleh

“I absolutely recommend NOVA. The professors are amazing, and there are a lot of opportunities here. I’m grateful for NOVA.”
~ Muhammed Saleh

Muhammed Saleh recently completed the Network Engineering Specialist C.S.C. certificate at NOVA and is set to graduate this summer with an associate degree in cybersecurity. His journey has been marked by his active involvement in various initiatives and clubs, particularly the Nighthawks Cloud, NOVA’s IET Cloud Computing Club at the Woodbridge campus.

He joined Nighthawks Cloud last spring and was soon elected as its president. The club, which boasts over 200 members, includes 20 active participants who attend in-person sessions, while others engage online. Active members gather on Thursdays at the Manassas campus for hands-on projects (prospective members can visit the Nighthawks Cloud website at https://nighthawks.cloud/ and join the Discord server for club information and event updates).

Last summer, Muhammed furthered his practical knowledge by completing an internship with VAE, Inc., a company renowned for providing top-tier infrastructure solutions to government and commercial clients. His manager introduced him to various departments within the company, allowing him to work with project management and ID management teams. His responsibilities included IT tasks and assisting in racking and configuring servers, providing him with invaluable hands-on experience.

Following his internship, Muhammed was hired part-time at NOVA as a lab support technician. For six months, he split his time between the Woodbridge and Manassas campuses, where he provided lab assistance and collaborated on projects with professors. “Working at NOVA was a great experience because I gained hands-on experience and exposure,” he said.

Currently, Muhammed works full-time remotely as a network engineer for Light Professional IT Services, a company specializing in computer security services. In this role, he serves as the point of contact for clients experiencing DDOS attacks, escalates issues to the cybersecurity team when necessary, and upgrades networks and projectors.

He also manages the NSF building’s network, ensuring the proper connection and functionality of IP cameras, access points, WiFi, IoT devices, and printers. “It’s fun. My team is really amazing and experienced, so they help me because I’m a newbie, but I learn every single day,” he said.

Muhammed strongly recommends that NOVA cybersecurity students pursue internships and obtain industry certifications from CompTIA or Cisco to enhance their knowledge and improve their job prospects. “This can deepen your industry knowledge and increase your chances of getting hired,” he advised.

With a passion for lifelong learning, Muhammed’s long-term goals include earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, and he aspires to become a professor one day.

Career Skills, Cloud Computing, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Center Operations, Engineering Technology, IET Career Days, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Industry Partnerships, Information Technology, Interpersonal Skills, Network Engineering, NOVA to Transfer, NOVA to Workforce

IET Career Day at the AN Campus Has Students Looking at NOVA

Earlier this month we held our final 2024 NOVA IET Career Day at the Annandale campus to showcase our Information and Engineering Technology programs to over 85 high school students (after successful previous career days in March on other NOVA campuses where 300+ HS students attended).

Participants toured the campus, engaged in hands-on activities, and learned from industry professionals including Nick Dahal from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cameron Brown from Suffolk Construction, Greg Howard from Peraton, and Ryan Ammons and Obaid Sabori from NOVA IET. Key support was also provided by NOVA’s Dual Enrollment team.

The primary goal of the IET Career Days is to spark student interest in the in-demand tech pathway at NOVA, enabling them to either transfer to a 4-year institution in an IET field, or in many cases, enter the workforce directly after one or two years at the college.

Here’s how some of the attending high schoolers responded to their day at NOVA:

“I enjoyed this event because it was informative and helpful. Now, I’m considering attending NOVA for two years before transferring to a four-year college. Hearing from professionals working in the real world was interesting. I’m really glad that I signed up.”

~ Patricia, Senior, Marshall High School Academy

“I’m considering applying to NOVA or to a college in New Orleans, where my sister lives. I’m interested in cybersecurity. The Annandale campus is nice, and the data analytics session was pretty cool.”

~ Solomon, Junior, Potomac High School

“This event was great. I liked the interactive session that gave out prizes. I applied for NOVA’s cybersecurity program. I’m currently taking a cybersecurity class at school.”

~ Jerry, Senior, Marshall High School Academy

“I’m a dual enrollment student at NOVA. I wanted to come to this event to learn more about NOVA, information technology, and the internship options. It was an interesting event. I’m attending George Mason University in the fall.”

~ Evan, Senior, Marshall High School Academy

“I’m interested in mechanical engineering and the IT field, so this event was intriguing and informational. The session with the instructional system designer was interesting because I never really thought about how the government and the IT field intertwine.

I’m deciding among Penn State, George Mason, or Virginia Tech for the fall (I’m on the VT waitlist). As a dual enrollment student at NOVA, I’ve taken a history class and am currently taking an English class and a systems technology class, where I’ll earn A+ certification.

I’ve also considered attending NOVA for two years and then transferring to a four-year university. My grandfather was an English professor at NOVA but is now retired. He also worked as a diplomat and at the World Bank. He’s from Syria.”

~ Nile, Senior, Langley High School

Insights from Presenters:

Greg Howard, an Instructional Systems Designer/Curriculum Development Specialist working as a contractor at Peraton, shared advice for students interested in the IT field: “When you start your career, you may be shy or nervous about talking to people, but you will have to interact with them. Sometimes, you have to ‘fake it till you make it’ as you learn how to communicate. If you don’t, you may not be able to do your job successfully, which would be a disservice to yourself and the organization you’re working for. You have to learn how to adapt accordingly; it’s an important skill to learn.”

Obaid Sabori, a NOVA graduate with an associate degree in cybersecurity, now an entrepreneur and lab support technician at NOVA, stressed that “everyone needs to learn about cybersecurity to protect their digital identity.” He encourages students interested in cybersecurity to gain experience through hands-on projects and participation in both in-person and online competitions, such as the National Cyber League and Hack the Box.

Ryan Ammons, an assistant IET professor at NOVA, highlighted how Artificial Intelligence (AI), or machine learning, is transforming the workforce. According to The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, it’s predicted that there will be a 40% increase in the number of AI and machine learning specialists by 2027, representing a 30-35% rise in demand. Ryan emphasized  the one-year Data Analytics program at NOVA, noting it equips students with skills supporting the latest advances in digital data analytics.

Nick Dahal, a NOVA and George Mason University graduate, now an Operations Manager for Amazon Web Services, urges students interested in the IET field to apply for internships. “My internship was a game-changer. Internships are very important because your degree’s value doubles when you graduate with internship experience. Since internships are competitive, you may have to apply to many, but as you go through more interviews, talk to more people, and review your resume multiple times, you fix more mistakes and just get better at the process.”

Career Skills, Cloud Computing, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Data Center Operations, Engineering Technology, IET Career Days, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Information Technology, Network Engineering

IET Career Days are Back!

Showcasing NOVA’s commitment to supporting students and professionals in IET fields, NOVA’s IET High School Career Days return this March and April! These events introduce high school students to in-demand technology career pathways.

Check out our IET Career Day Video

Career Days are FREE and feature presentations and panel discussions by industry experts covering a range of topics such as Information Technology, Engineering Technology, Computer Science, Data Center Operations, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Credit for Prior Learning (e.g. Google, CompTIA, and AWS certifications). Students will also tour the particular NOVA campus they are visiting (Loudoun, Woodbridge, Manassas, Alexandria, andAnnandale).

High schools that meet the minimum registration requirement will be provided free transportation to and from the event and lunch is also provided. This is a first-come first-serve event and each campus is capped at 200 attendees.

Registration is required to attend and all high school students must self-register for their respective Career Day.

Register below to attend a Career Day at one of our NOVA Campuses: 

Tuesday 3/12 Loudoun Campus
Wednesday 3/13 Woodbridge Campus
Thursday 3/14 Manassas Campus
Friday 4/5 Annandale Campus

For questions contact Braden Traw at jtraw@nvcc.edu or Justin Owen at jlowen@nvcc.edu.

Cloud Computing, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Center Operations, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Information Technology, Internships, Interpersonal Skills, Networking, PWCS IT Internship

Paid PWCS IT Internships for NOVA IET Students

Through December 13th, there are excellent PAID internship opportunities for Northern Virginia Community College students who are currently enrolled in an IET program of study (Cybersecurity, IT Help Desk, Cloud Computing, Computer Science, and more).

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is offering multiple Information Technology (IT) Support Technician internships that will begin during the spring 2024 semester.

This internship involves working under the general guidance of experienced PWCS Technical Support Specialists to assist students, teachers and staff on-site with hardware and software issues at one or more PWCS locations.

Students will gain hands-on experience in IT support while contributing to the efficient operation of a school’s technology infrastructure.

The internship will operate during regular daytime business hours and interns will be paid $20/hr with a maximum earning of $3000.

Apply by December 13 through the NOVA Career Connection portal

More about NOVA IET at https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/divisions/iet/index.html

#InDemandTech #InformationTechnology #Internships #InformationTechnology #Nighthawks

Career & Leadership Readiness Institute, Career Skills, CLRI, Cybersecurity, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Information Technology, Internships, Interpersonal Skills, NOVA IET Career Pathways, NOVA to Mason, NOVA to Workforce, PWCS IT Internship, Student Success, Student to Workforce, Women in IET, Women in STEM

PWCS IT Intern Now Working at NOVA in IT

Fatima Shareen comes full circle from NOVA cyber student and CLRI to NOVA IT employee.

 By Kristy Gillespie

Fatima Shareen is a recent NOVA cybersecurity graduate and now works as an Information Technology (IT) Support Technician at the bustling Woodbridge Campus, future site of NOVA’s Data Center Operations Training Facility and where NOVA’s Information and Engineering Technologies (IET) program is based.

Her current career pathway was trailblazed from her time as a Prince William County Schools (PWCS) IT intern when she was a NOVA student. From the beginning, the 150-hour internship at Forest Park High School provided flexibility as she could choose between an eight or six-hour day, giving her the freedom to efficiently manage her busy schedule at work and at George Mason University, where she is pursuing a cybersecurity bachelor degree.

Like many technology students at NOVA who are looking to develop their soft skills, Shareen previously completed NOVA IET’s Career & Leadership Readiness Institute (CLRI): “I loved the CLRI program. I actually enrolled twice because the instructors provided great support for the interview process and helped with resume building.”

Shereen highly recommends that NOVA IET students take advantage of CLRI so they have better internship opportunities, as being a CLRI grad played a pivotal role in securing her own PWCS intern spot.

Her key tasks during the internship included computer imaging (which involves the installation of operating systems, applications, and settings) and computer scripting for automating tasks in websites and web applications. She utilized Configuration Manager, a systems management software product, to handle a total of 3,000 laptops.

At Forest Park High School, Shereen progressed through her internship in a “warm and welcoming environment with supportive individuals.” One person who had a profound influence on her was Sylvia Avila, an IT Support Technician. “I’ve been working for the last six, seven years, but never encountered someone like her. She was simply amazing and incredibly helpful,” Shareen said.

The PWCS internship significantly bolstered her resume, enhanced her teamwork skills, expanded her IT knowledge, and provided valuable hands-on training. Shareen emphasized how those skills acquired during the internship continue to support her in her current career, particularly with diagnosing and resolving computer errors or technical issues: “If you are in the IT field, troubleshooting is the most important thing that you should know.”

Shareen has come full circle, from NOVA student to NOVA employee. Reflecting on those who made a positive impact during her time as a student, she singled out IET Professor Michael Spiller as her favorite instructor: “The way he taught was different from other teachers. He always showed up to class stating that he was the boss and we were his employees. I took 3 or 4 classes with him. He was amazing.”

In her professional environment, Shareen is keenly appreciative of NOVA’s “positive vibe,” with friendly people and job tasks similar to those performed during her internship.

Looking forward, Shareen aspires to venture into entrepreneurship and develop her own business, possibly through the Fulfillment by Amazon platform.

Shareen’s heartfelt message to NOVA students is: “your time at NOVA is an invaluable investment in your future, and I encourage you to approach it with dedication and belief in your capabilities.”

PWCS IT Internship Opportunities are currently available for NOVA students. Apply by December 13 through the NOVA Career Connection portal

More about NOVA IET at https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/divisions/iet/index.html

#Nighthawks #NOVAPride #InDemandTech #InformationTechnology #Internships #InformationTechnology

Career & Leadership Readiness Institute, Career Skills, CLRI, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Center Operations, Engineering Technology, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Industry Partnerships, Information Technology, Internships, Interpersonal Skills, Mentoring, NOVA IET Career Pathways, NOVA to Workforce, Professional Development, Soft Skills, Student Success, Student to Workforce

CLRI Kickoff Our Biggest One Yet

The Career and Leadership Readiness Institute (CLRI) kicked-off at the NOVA Annandale campus on September 7th and this Fall’s group is our biggest one yet with over 50 registered participants.

CLRI is free and provides NOVA students the opportunity to become more competitive job candidates.

NOVA IET’s M. Andy Chaves and Sedrick Settle have established a highly regarded program that equips NOVA students with career readiness and priority consideration for paid internships with industry partners.

The kick-off event is intended to give CLRI participants an invested and friendly opening to what’s become a vital program at NOVA.

Just from the kick-off alone, surveyed students responded with the following feedback:

“This was an amazing session, something I needed for a very long time. Today I found my brand with the help of two amazing mentors. Looking forward to gain more valuable tips.”

“Thank you for being genuine and for sharing personal experiences with us.”

“It was great! The guest speaker went over all communication skills in great details, provided great examples and requested the crowd to participate as much as possible. Best workshop so far in my opinion.”

“It was interesting and educative. I’m glad I joined this program. I really need a mentor in life.”

“It was a great experience, learned a lot of tips and important aspects of interview techniques. In fact, it helped to build confidence and hope in me. Great workshop.”

Fall CLRI sessions are are currently underway. where CLRI students are training how to interview, create a resume that stands out, network effectively, manage interpersonal skills in a diverse workplace and more. For NOVA IET students, the CLRI is a vital component in learning soft skills to complement technical skills.

Many CLRI grads have landed internship and job offers from tech industry partners directly through the program.

New Spring sessions will be available to sign up for in Jan 2024. Fill out our Interest Form and we will alert you when registration is available.

More about CLRI at www.nvcc.edu/career-services/clri.html

 

Career Skills, Cybersecurity, In-Demand Technology Pathways, Internships, Interpersonal Skills, Mentoring, NOVA to Mason, Student Success

Q and A With CyTalks Intern Maseeh Lalee

We spoke with NOVA cybersecurity student Maseeh Lalee about getting ready for the real world, self-advocacy, and career goals.

Q: Please explain the importance of cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity deals with every aspect touching the digital realm. I think when people think about Cybersecurity, they think about anti-virus or technical stuff like firewalls. In fact, it’s often simple concepts. For example: don’t overshare on social media, guard your digital footprint, use complex passwords, don’t add people who you don’t know, etc. The importance really lies in trying to limit the methods that an attacker can compromise a system or a person by gaining information, which often is publicly available. Also never assuming your data is safe or your privacy is ensured, cybersecurity’s importance is emphasizing that security is a shared responsibility that everybody is involved in.

Q: Generally, why are internships important?

Internships really give you a good look at how work, and to a larger extent business, is conducted in a professional environment. In this internship with CyTalks, I found the access we were given to Office 365 cloud suite gave us an opportunity to experiment with things and to complete the tasks we were given. I also value internships as a networking avenue, I met some people on my team that I’m still in contact with today.

Q: What specific hands-on activities have you engaged in during your internship? What has been your favorite task or project?

We were doing so many things related to Cybersecurity. The first project was auditing our systems to take a security baseline and it gave us some insight into system hardening and the compliance or legal side of Cyber. We reviewed guidelines like the NIST Risk Management Framework which outlines the process of managing risk associated with systems added to a network and the subsequent security controls put in place to secure those systems. I also got to write a paper on the Cyber Skills Gap which was pretty fun just doing research about the field I am actively pursuing. My favorite task or project was actually the most unsuccessful, which was malware analysis. Basically, we ran malware or a virus inside a virtual machine to observe its behavior. Although the malware’s execution didn’t work for me, building this sandbox environment really motivated me to doing this stuff on my own time since it was aligned with what I’d like to do in the future.

Q: Who has had a particular influence on you during your internship?

Dr. Kohy and my team lead Bethany has much influence on me. Dr. Kohy gave us insights in how we should carry ourselves and industry specific advice. Bethany gave our team a lot of motivation and support to stay on top of deadlines.

Q: What’s the importance of soft skills (communication, problem solving, working with people) in cybersecurity and what have you learned during your internship in this capacity?

Soft skills is super important and I think it was stressed on so much that it became ingrained in our mindset. Just working as part of a team let us know the importance of soft skills. For example, managing projects and their deadlines, effectively communicating and resolving any problems with your team. The golden rule I learned is you must be personable and be a self-advocate. Nobody’s going to help you if you’re not willing to help yourself.

Q: How did your experience as a NOVA student prepare you for your internship?

NOVA’s classes were much in line with what we were doing. Mostly I was pulling from self-study and research assignments I’ve done at NOVA to streamline the projects to complete them smoothly.

Q: Explain what you think are the benefits of a 2-year degree in Cybersecurity and also a 4-year degree. Do you plan to go straight into the workforce or transfer after NOVA?

I think there are both direct and indirect benefits. The direct benefits are what people often look to when they’re trying to convince students to go to college, that the degree makes you more employable. However, I think it really depends on the person cause self-study is definitely possible. I know people with 2-year degrees that don’t really know anything. They just went through the classes at NOVA but never retained the concepts. So it’s really about the work you put in. If you’re already an IT professional, a 2 year degree would suffice. If you’re just entering straight out of high school, a 4 year degree could be in your path because there are many fundamentals you have to learn in order to get into Cyber. Simply because Cyber isn’t really entry level even though there’s many “entry level” positions open. As far as my plans go, I’m transferring to George Mason University but am also actively partaking in other internship opportunities and applying to full time IT/Cyber jobs.

Q: What particular area of cybersecurity do you want to pursue?

I want to get into SOC, Incident Response or Vulnerability Management. They’re all Blue Team or defense roles but particularly SOC interests me because being a Security Analyst is my dream job.

Q: What type of software have you used in your internship and how has it equipped you?

It was primarily the Microsoft Office 365 Suite, which was Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It has benefited me because in the internship I’m at now, we primarily communicate through Outlook and Teams. Learning to schedule meetings on Teams was extremely useful.

Q: Tell us a little about the personal side of internships. What are relationships like with peers and with supervisors at Cytalks?

With peers it was great, I had 2 teammates and I really liked them both. One of my teammates his name is Justin, he ended up becoming good friends with me and I got to know him well. My supervisor Bethany was an extremely invaluable resource for me and she was extremely kind. I received great mentorship from both her and Dr. Kohy for guidance as we were navigating through the internship and figuring out our paths.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle?

The biggest challenge is adapting. Trying to stay ahead and be able to manage the workload, because if you can’t deliver a project on time, it’s a bad look on your time management skills. I just tried to stay ahead and keep adapting to any new information I encountered.

Q: What has been the biggest game-changer for you in this internship?

I’d have to say the confidence I got with learning self-advocacy and getting myself out there as much as I can. I was taught an interesting lesson. “It’s not what you know but who you know”. It gave me an idea as to how important networking and the need to build connections with your colleagues or people who can become future friends. Even just treating everybody with respect is super important cause if you think about things solely on how someone can benefit you, you’re harming yourself. This internship was a humbling experience seeing people who’ve been in cyber for years volunteering their time made me think in more positive terms.

Q: What else should we know from your experience as a CyTalks intern?

It’s a great opportunity for interns to learn as much as they can. You’ve got to experience it to find out how great of an environment it is. It was insightful seeing how much freedom they gave us interns as to which projects we could choose but also in managing and creating these projects. We were just given a deadline and some guidelines, but as to how we implemented it was up to us and our creativity as a group. I was surprised how much research we did at CyTalks, it was almost like we were in a class but it never felt like a classroom environment. The team leads were always very motivational and supportive to us. I think that’s what really made this internship, we were put into teams and I felt accountable to my teammates and didn’t want to disappoint them.

Q: What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

My career goal is to get into Cybersecurity, specifically the defense side of things. In 5 years I want be a Tier 2 or 3 Security Analyst working on incident response or in a SOC. Eventually I want to get into Cyber Engineering or the management side of things which can happen in 7 years. Cloud computing is a big field now so I would like to also incorporate my knowledge of cyber to become a Cloud Security Engineer which I could achieve in 10 years or just go towards Cyber management like CISO.

Q: Bonus question: Do you have a favorite show that depicts Cybersecurity? What do TV and movies get right and wrong about Cybersecurity?

I don’t watch much shows but I can speak to this a bit. I watched a couple episodes of Mr. Robot, and I can say it was somewhat accurate. Most ethical hackers have a strong background in cyber so they’ll be in a cyber engineer jobs cause there’s simply more blue team/defense jobs than red team/hacking jobs. From watching Snowden, I can say that’s pretty realistic too. Especially the part where he’s downloading files onto a USB and then exfiltrating it off the servers. He was a security analyst so he would’ve had access to those specific files/data and also the biggest threats are often insiders or employees/Ex-employees cause of their levels of access and knowledge of the network’s architecture or inner workings. It would be easy for them to break into a system they know like the back of their hand.