Cybersecurity in Government: Exploring Homeland Security

To start off our first official day in the Cybersecurity & Defense Internship, students learned about client training and consulting goals with globally recognized cybersecurity analyst and cyber forensics instructor, Phuong Nguyen.

The students then took an exclusive tour of the Department of Homeland Security's Innovation Lab where they were able to learn how cybersecurity is used to catch human traffickers, drug smugglers, and child abusers. They were also given a briefing on how the DHS updates its cybersecurity systems to continue using the most modern software and practices.

The students returned from the HSI Innovation Lab to have lunch before setting off to the Department of Homeland Security’s Technical Operations facility. Here they learned about the different fields in the DHS and how cybersecurity is an ever-evolving industry. They then had the unique opportunity to tour the facility, interacting with different gear and equipment. 

The night concluded with a briefing on Security principles by David Balenson, the associate director of the USC Information Science Institute, who has over 35 years of experience in managing and conducting research and development of innovative solutions to challenging cybersecurity affairs for government and private clients.