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From Interns to SOC Analysts: Real Cybersecurity Careers Start Here
In this episode of Behind the Shield, we continue our internship series with a real, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s actually like to start a career in cybersecurity.
Host Felisha Daemer sits down with Levi Church and Ben Collins, two former interns turned full-time Security Operations Analysts, to talk through their journeys from local students to working hands-on in a 24/7 SOC environment.
They share how they found InfusionPoints, what surprised them most stepping into a professional environment, and how quickly things shift from theory to real-world application.
From navigating “acronym soup” on day one to building real solutions during live incidents, including a response to the global CrowdStrike outage, this episode highlights just how impactful hands-on experience can be.
You’ll also hear how InfusionPoints’ rotational internship model exposes interns to multiple teams, including security operations, engineering, advisory, cloud ops, and even marketing, helping them find where they thrive.
And maybe most importantly, why culture, curiosity, and being willing to figure things out matter just as much as technical knowledge.
Whether you’re a student exploring cybersecurity, a hiring manager building an internship program, or just curious how talent actually develops in this space, this episode gives you an unfiltered look.
Chapters:
0:10 Introduction
0:31 Levi's Introduction
1:23 Ben's Introduction
2:12 Inspiration to Enter the Field
3:40 Internship Experiences
6:50 Advice for Future Interns
8:23 Certifications and Learning
10:24 Culture and Work Environment
15:00 Projects and Achievements
21:15 Fun Questions
What You’ll Learn:
What it’s really like transitioning from cybersecurity theory to hands-on work in a SOC
How internships can shape and sometimes completely change career paths
The value of rotational vs. specialized internship experiences
Why “culture shock” is normal and how to push through it
How small teams create faster learning opportunities and require wearing multiple hats
Building an automated emergency communication system during a major outage
Streamlining internal SOC documentation for faster analyst onboarding
Automating employee bio updates for operational efficiency
Why certifications like AWS Cloud Practitioner, CySA+, and tools like CloudQuest can give you a head start
The importance of continuous learning, curiosity, and problem-solving in cybersecurity
How collaboration across teams (SOC, marketing, engineering, leadership) accelerates growth
What makes a strong intern and what advice current analysts would give to future applicants
InfusionPoints Links:
Apply to the Internship- https://infusionpoints.com/careers/InfusionPoints-Internship
Felisha Daemer- https://www.linkedin.com/in/felisha-daemer/
Levi Church- https://www.linkedin.com/in/levichurch/
Ben Collins- https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamincollins001/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/infusionpoints/
https://www.InfusionPoints.com
https://infusionpoints.com/contact-us
About Us:
InfusionPoints is a trusted cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and compliance partner helping organizations Build, Manage, and Defend secure, mission-ready environments in highly regulated markets.
We specialize in FedRAMP, FedRAMP 20x, DoD, and enterprise security frameworks, supporting organizations from initial authorization through continuous monitoring and optimization. Our team brings deep technical expertise and real-world operational insight to every engagement.
Through our independent, security-first approach, we integrate people, processes, and technology to deliver scalable, compliant, and resilient solutions. From strategy and architecture to operations and defense, we help customers move faster without sacrificing security.
View all episodes
By InfusionPointsIn this episode of Behind the Shield, we continue our internship series with a real, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s actually like to start a career in cybersecurity.
Host Felisha Daemer sits down with Levi Church and Ben Collins, two former interns turned full-time Security Operations Analysts, to talk through their journeys from local students to working hands-on in a 24/7 SOC environment.
They share how they found InfusionPoints, what surprised them most stepping into a professional environment, and how quickly things shift from theory to real-world application.
From navigating “acronym soup” on day one to building real solutions during live incidents, including a response to the global CrowdStrike outage, this episode highlights just how impactful hands-on experience can be.
You’ll also hear how InfusionPoints’ rotational internship model exposes interns to multiple teams, including security operations, engineering, advisory, cloud ops, and even marketing, helping them find where they thrive.
And maybe most importantly, why culture, curiosity, and being willing to figure things out matter just as much as technical knowledge.
Whether you’re a student exploring cybersecurity, a hiring manager building an internship program, or just curious how talent actually develops in this space, this episode gives you an unfiltered look.
Chapters:
0:10 Introduction
0:31 Levi's Introduction
1:23 Ben's Introduction
2:12 Inspiration to Enter the Field
3:40 Internship Experiences
6:50 Advice for Future Interns
8:23 Certifications and Learning
10:24 Culture and Work Environment
15:00 Projects and Achievements
21:15 Fun Questions
What You’ll Learn:
What it’s really like transitioning from cybersecurity theory to hands-on work in a SOC
How internships can shape and sometimes completely change career paths
The value of rotational vs. specialized internship experiences
Why “culture shock” is normal and how to push through it
How small teams create faster learning opportunities and require wearing multiple hats
Building an automated emergency communication system during a major outage
Streamlining internal SOC documentation for faster analyst onboarding
Automating employee bio updates for operational efficiency
Why certifications like AWS Cloud Practitioner, CySA+, and tools like CloudQuest can give you a head start
The importance of continuous learning, curiosity, and problem-solving in cybersecurity
How collaboration across teams (SOC, marketing, engineering, leadership) accelerates growth
What makes a strong intern and what advice current analysts would give to future applicants
InfusionPoints Links:
Apply to the Internship- https://infusionpoints.com/careers/InfusionPoints-Internship
Felisha Daemer- https://www.linkedin.com/in/felisha-daemer/
Levi Church- https://www.linkedin.com/in/levichurch/
Ben Collins- https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamincollins001/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/infusionpoints/
https://www.InfusionPoints.com
https://infusionpoints.com/contact-us
About Us:
InfusionPoints is a trusted cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and compliance partner helping organizations Build, Manage, and Defend secure, mission-ready environments in highly regulated markets.
We specialize in FedRAMP, FedRAMP 20x, DoD, and enterprise security frameworks, supporting organizations from initial authorization through continuous monitoring and optimization. Our team brings deep technical expertise and real-world operational insight to every engagement.
Through our independent, security-first approach, we integrate people, processes, and technology to deliver scalable, compliant, and resilient solutions. From strategy and architecture to operations and defense, we help customers move faster without sacrificing security.