Datacom’s 10-week internship gives emerging cybersecurity talent practical, real-world experience.
Interns gain exposure to cybersecurity tools, teams and career pathways while learning from experienced professionals.
Starting a career in cybersecurity takes more than theoretical knowledge. While courses and qualifications provide important foundations, many aspiring cybersecurity professionals are looking for opportunities to apply their skills in real-world environments and gain practical industry experience.
That thinking is behind Datacom's Cybersecurity Work Experience Internship Programme. The programme was created in 2019 and grew from a collaboration between Datacom and two polytechnics, Ara and Unitec, with the aim of helping bridge the gap between study and employment.
“We were in dire need of cybersecurity talent,” says Camilla Potter, Cybersecurity Consultant, Tech Cybersecurity Management and Assurance at Datacom. “We worked together to develop the diploma as a practical way of exposing people to cybersecurity.”
“It was a challenge the industry was facing more broadly,” Anirban Dey General Manager of Cyber Operations at Datacom says. While there were plenty of people interested in cybersecurity, many were looking for opportunities to gain practical experience, at a time when organisations were struggling to attract enough skilled people.
“We realised that rather than simply looking for experienced cybersecurity professionals, we could also invest in developing people ourselves.”
The initial internship grew through Datacom’s partnership with Unitec, supporting students undertaking its Level 5 Cybersecurity Diploma and giving them an opportunity to put what they were learning into practice.
“In cybersecurity, practical experience is just as important as technical knowledge,” says Dey. “Internships give people the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a real operational environment.”
Across the 10-week internship, participants come into Datacom’s offices, experience different areas of cybersecurity, work alongside industry professionals and put their learning into practice through hands-on projects.
For intern Briar Miller, who completed the placement at Datacom’s Auckland office, the experience provided a new perspective on an industry she was already building a career in. Working as a Communications Warfare Specialist in the Royal New Zealand Navy since 2014, Miller had recently moved into cybersecurity and completed a Diploma in Cybersecurity at Unitec.
“I was drawn to cybersecurity because there’s always a challenge. You’re never going to get bored,” says Miller.
While Miller already had cybersecurity experience through the Navy, working at Datacom exposed her to the range of roles available in a private-sector environment.
“I didn’t realise Datacom had so many different positions in cybersecurity. Coming from the military, it was interesting to see what cybersecurity looks like in the private sector.”
Fellow intern Fathima Thaseen was also looking for ways to turn academic knowledge into practical experience. After beginning her technology career in Dubai, Thaseen developed an interest in cybersecurity and is now studying towards a master’s degree in cybersecurity and digital forensics at Auckland University of Technology.
“When I started my degree in cybersecurity, I was looking for opportunities where I could use the skills I was learning.”
During the placement, Thaseen shadowed people in Datacom’s Security Operations Centre and gained exposure to tools including CrowdStrike and Microsoft Sentinel. She also completed CrowdStrike training and gained a certification.
“These were tools we had heard about, but we’d never had the chance to practice with and learn.”
Anirban Dey notes that the interns’ exposure to real-world cybersecurity environments is an important part of preparing emerging talent for an industry that continues to evolve rapidly.
As AI and automation reshape both cyber threats and defences, he says areas such as identity, threat intelligence and cloud and OT security are becoming increasingly important.
But technical knowledge is only part of the picture.
“Good communication, problem-solving, analytical thinking and the ability to understand the business are becoming just as important.”
Working alongside experienced security analysts, engineers and consultants gives interns an opportunity to develop these capabilities while seeing how cybersecurity operates day to day. As well as gaining exposure to the tools and processes used by security teams, they learn how to work within a team, communicate with different stakeholders and understand the customer perspective.
The interns also completed threat intelligence activities, gave presentations and explored KC7, a gamified cybersecurity training platform.
Some of the most valuable learning also came through the relationships the interns formed. Miller particularly enjoyed coffee catch-ups with Datacom’s cybersecurity team.
“I really enjoyed going for coffee and chatting to people, learning about what they did and how they found cybersecurity. That’s what I enjoyed the most, the people.”
Camilla Potter says the programme benefits both interns and Datacom. Interns gain practical experience, while Datacom teams are exposed to new ideas and perspectives.
“Our teams are learning from them as well when they come in. They bring new ideas.”
The programme has also evolved beyond focusing solely on people already studying cybersecurity. Potter says curiosity, willingness to learn and varied life experience can all be valuable.
“We’re looking for different types of skills, not just someone who knows about cybersecurity, but inquisitive people and people who are keen to learn.”
For Dey, one of the clearest examples of the programme’s impact is the role it played in building Datacom’s 24/7 Cyber Defence Operations Centre (CDOC). The initial team was recruited entirely through the internship programme, with some of those interns still at Datacom today in more senior and specialised roles.
“That is probably one of the best examples of what the programme can achieve. It started as a way of giving people their first opportunity in cybersecurity, but for some of them it became the beginning of a long-term career with Datacom.”
Over time, the programme has grown into more than an internship, providing practical experience, mentoring and exposure to different areas of cybersecurity. It also gives Datacom an opportunity to identify and develop future talent, while contributing to the wider cybersecurity workforce in New Zealand.
By learning alongside experienced professionals, developing workplace skills and exploring different career pathways, emerging talent can build the experience and connections to support their next steps in cybersecurity.
At Datacom, we recognise the important role work experience plays in developing the skills, confidence and industry knowledge needed to build a career in technology. Our cybersecurity internship is one example of how we help emerging talent put their learning into practice. Through our Early Careers Programme, we also offer work experience, trainee, internship and graduate pathways, supported by mentoring and learning opportunities tailored to different career goals.
