Big News!
I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be joining Google this summer as a Security Consultant Intern in Chicago!
Specifically, I’ll be working with Google Mandiant (part of Google Cloud), one of the world’s leading cybersecurity consulting teams.
About Google Mandiant
For those unfamiliar, Mandiant is a cybersecurity powerhouse that was acquired by Google in 2022. They’re known for:
- Incident Response: Responding to the world’s most sophisticated cyber attacks
- Threat Intelligence: Tracking nation-state actors and advanced persistent threats (APTs)
- Red Team Operations: Conducting offensive security assessments for Fortune 500 companies
- Security Consulting: Helping organizations improve their security posture
Mandiant has been involved in investigating some of the most high-profile breaches in history, and their threat intelligence is used by organizations worldwide.
What This Means
This internship represents an incredible opportunity to:
Learn from the Best
- Work alongside world-class security researchers and consultants
- Gain exposure to real-world incident response and threat hunting
- Learn advanced offensive and defensive security techniques
- Understand how enterprise security works at scale
Apply My Skills
Everything I’ve been working on—Active Directory security, offensive operations, network defense, competition experience—will be directly applicable to this role.
Grow as a Professional
- Experience consulting with Fortune 500 clients
- Understand the business side of cybersecurity
- Build professional network in the industry
- Learn what makes effective security recommendations
The Journey Here
Getting to this point has been a combination of:
Academic Foundation
- Cybersecurity degree at Indiana Institute of Technology
- Hands-on labs and coursework
- Building strong fundamentals in networking, systems, and security
Practical Experience
- Indiana Cyber Network: Working as a Security Analyst
- Indiana Tech Cyber Warriors: Leadership role and competition experience
- Projects: ClassCloud, infrastructure work, tool development
- Competitions: CCDC, NCL, CTFs
Continuous Learning
- Self-study in offensive security
- Active Directory attack and defense
- Reading incident response reports
- Following security research
- Contributing to the security community
What’s Next
Between now and summer, I’ll be:
- Finishing the semester strong at Indiana Tech
- Continuing work at Indiana Cyber Network
- Leading Indiana Tech Cyber Warriors through competition season
- Preparing for the internship:
- Reviewing incident response methodologies
- Studying Mandiant’s public reports
- Practicing consultation and communication skills
- Deep-diving into threat intelligence
Reflection
This opportunity is the result of years of hard work, countless late nights in competitions and labs, and support from amazing mentors and teammates.
Special thanks to:
- Indiana Cyber Network for giving me real-world security experience
- Indiana Tech Cyber Warriors teammates who push me to improve
- Faculty and mentors who’ve supported my growth
- Family and friends for their encouragement
Looking Forward
I’m incredibly excited (and a bit nervous) about this internship. Google Mandiant works on some of the most challenging security problems in the world, and I can’t wait to contribute and learn.
If you’re a current or former Mandiant employee reading this—I’d love to connect and learn from your experience!
For fellow students aspiring to break into cybersecurity—keep grinding. Build things, compete in CTFs, contribute to the community, and most importantly, never stop learning. The opportunities are out there.
Here’s to summer 2025 in Chicago! 🎉
#GoogleInterns #GoogleStudents #Cybersecurity #InfoSec #Mandiant
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out at mt@mtsaga.net!