Brenden Padilla knows that cybersecurity is a field where experience matters just as much as education.

That's why the PennWest Global Online student is spending his internship at Ford Office Technologies immersed in the day-to-day work of protecting organizations from cyber threats while putting the concepts he's learned in the classroom into practice.

Padilla, who is pursuing a Professional Science Master's in cybersecurity, earned his bachelor's degree in earth science with a concentration in climate science and a minor in computer science from PennWest California. A graduate of California Area High School, he said the internship has given him a firsthand look at the fast-paced nature of cybersecurity while helping him prepare for the career he hopes to build after graduation.

"My main focus is supporting our cybersecurity engineer and junior analyst with whatever they need," Padilla said. "No two days are exactly the same."

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A day in the life of a cybersecurity intern

Follow Brenden Padilla through a day at Ford Office Technologies and see how his PennWest cybersecurity education connects with the real-world challenges he encounters during his internship.

His daily responsibilities include monitoring alerts through Datto RMM and RocketCyber, cybersecurity monitoring platforms that help identify and respond to potential threats for clients.

"It's fast-paced, but you learn so much by diving into real cyber alerts," he said.

For Padilla, one of the biggest takeaways has been seeing how closely his graduate coursework aligns with the work he performs each day.

"Everyday tasks pull directly from what I've learned about compliance, project management, network security and cloud security," Padilla said.

That connection between theory and practice reinforced the value of gaining professional experience before graduation.

"That's exactly why doing an internship is so important," Padilla said. "You get a firsthand look at what a career in your major actually feels like."

One of Padilla's most significant projects is developing an automated security assessment tool as part of his graduate capstone. The tool will scan a client's Microsoft 365 environment, providing a snapshot of its security settings and identifying potential vulnerabilities. The project also aims to make the client onboarding process more efficient by identifying potential concerns early.

Beyond the technical skills, Padilla said working alongside experienced cybersecurity professionals has been invaluable.

"I've enjoyed my internship here at Ford Office Technologies," he said. "I've met several IT and cybersecurity professionals that have been in this field for many years. I've gained a lot of experience in the cybersecurity world and hope to enhance my skills for a full-time job."

The experience has also strengthened his career goals.

"Being exposed to all these different security parameters has definitely locked in my career goals," Padilla said.

After completing his master's degree, he plans to enter the cybersecurity workforce, earn his CompTIA Security+ and cloud security certifications, and pursue a career as a cloud security engineer.

With practical experience complementing his graduate education, Padilla is building the technical expertise and confidence needed to help organizations navigate an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape.