Carolina Cyber Network interns step into live security operations and stop real threats in partnership with NCDIT.
Real Work. Real Impact. Real Protection.
Two Carolina Cyber Network interns recently demonstrated exactly why North Carolina needs a coordinated cyber workforce pipeline.
As highlighted in the NCDIT Connections newsletter, Jacob Wright (Fayetteville Technical Community College) and Jennifer Medina (Wake Technical Community College) helped detect and stop potential cyber threats inside the state’s Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office.
This was not a classroom simulation.
It was live operational security work protecting state systems and the people of North Carolina.
Quick Thinking Stops Threat Actors
Working 20 hours per week in NCDIT’s Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office, both interns were trained to investigate suspicious email and identity alerts.
They quickly proved they could do more than monitor dashboards.
- Jennifer identified a malicious email campaign, initiated a purge from inboxes, and implemented a URL block to prevent access even if users clicked before it was removed.
- Jacob detected an account compromise attempt before automated alerts triggered and escalated the threat, enabling rapid isolation of the incident.
Their supervisor described their response with words like:
Speed. Quick eyes. Curiosity. Quick action.
Colleagues congratulated them for “saving the day.”
That phrase matters.
Because it reframes internships from resume-building exercises to operational value creation.
Designed for Real Lives, Built for Real Workforce Outcomes
The internship structure is deliberate:
- Paid
- 20 hours per week
- Remote shift-based model
- Embedded with seasoned cybersecurity professionals
This flexibility allowed:
- A former Army sergeant and combat medic transitioning into cybersecurity.
- A working parent balancing education and career advancement to contribute meaningfully to the protection of North Carolina’s IT infrastructure.
This model does not remove students from reality.
It integrates them into it.
A Statewide Workforce Model That Works
The Carolina Cyber Network, representing 23 North Carolina colleges and universities, was built to solve a structural problem:
The cybersecurity workforce shortage.
Through direct partnership with NCDIT, CCN interns are:
- Gaining live SOC experience
- Contributing to state-level risk mitigation
- Accelerating readiness for public and private sector roles
- Demonstrating measurable return on investment for host agencies
As noted in the article, public service cybersecurity protects “your mom’s tax return” and “your kids’ health information”.
That perspective transforms cyber from technical work to civic responsibility.
The Bigger Picture
This is not an isolated success story.
It is evidence of a scalable workforce model that:
- Builds confidence in early-career talent
- Delivers immediate operational value
- Strengthens North Carolina’s cyber resilience
- Creates a repeatable pipeline for agencies and industry partners
The future of cybersecurity in North Carolina is not theoretical.
It is already on shift.
FROM NCDIT CONNECTIONS Saving the Day: NCDIT Interns’ Quick Actions Help Protect State Systems
