North Carolina needs cybersecurity talent, and NCDIT is helping build it, one intern at a time.
Through a partnership with the Carolina Cyber Network, a consortium of 23 North Carolina universities and community colleges, NCDIT is addressing the well-documented shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals by preparing a new generation of students for the workforce – and, for some, leading directly into full-time careers with the state.
Flexibility for Students Balancing Multiple Priorities
The CCN internship's structure – paid, part-time, and built around rotating shifts alongside experienced staff – is designed to accommodate students managing coursework, families, and other responsibilities.
"It allowed me to continue my education while I was still in school and needed time for other life commitments," current intern Benjamin Nelson, who attends the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, said. "It significantly contributed to my growth as a developing cybersecurity professional."
That same flexibility has carried former interns into full-time state careers. Jennifer Medina and Jacob Wright began as CCN interns and are now full-time members of NCDIT's Security Operations Center.
Jennifer, who balanced studies at Wake Technical Community College with raising children after years of relocating as a military spouse, said NCDIT supported her from the start. "They've been very accommodating, knowing I'm a student completing college work," she said, adding that her schedule always worked around her classes.
Jacob, who settled in North Carolina after his own military service, found NCDIT similarly supportive of his path, offering him a way to provide for his family while gaining the education and preparation to pursue a career that continues his purpose of service.
"Coming from a background in the military as a medic and helping others possibly through the worst day of their life to one of the greatest days of their life, taking a job offer from NCDIT just felt like the right move in the right direction on continuing my career of helping others," he said.
From the Classroom to Real-World Application
Coursework at CCN colleges is preparing students well for real-world cybersecurity work at NCDIT. Current intern Kaden Ethier said he found learning about AI risk management at Montreat College directly applicable to the frameworks used at NCDIT.
"My CCN training gave me a solid foundation coming into this internship and helped me not feel lost jumping into real-world work," Kaden said. "It allowed me to be proactive and take advantage of working with a state department and getting hands-on with the frameworks and guidelines they use."
Mentorship That Builds Confidence
Once interns arrive at NCDIT, that classroom foundation is reinforced by mentorship from experienced staff. Jacob said his team lead was "constantly teaching me and filling in those gaps," while Jennifer said successfully identifying her first phishing threat was the moment she gained real confidence in her abilities.
Benjamin said the Security Operations Center team's welcoming culture reshaped his understanding of who contributes meaningfully to cybersecurity work: "Everyone can be at a different level of expertise while also contributing greatly to the mission at hand."
A Shared Sense of Purpose
That sense of purpose is ultimately what drives interns to join the public-sector cyber workforce.
"I wanted to continue contributing to protecting the state, its users, people, and systems, and its safety," Jennifer said.
Kaden’s internship has reshaped his understanding of what that purpose looks like day to day. "It's shown me how structured and intentional public-sector cybersecurity really is.”
From classroom instruction to hands-on experience, the CCN partnership continues to prepare capable, mission-driven professionals for North Carolina's cybersecurity workforce.