Security internships are a fantastic way to learn, gain experience, and establish a foothold in the cybersecurity industry. However, they come with a variety of expectations and realities that may differ from what you imagine. Here’s a detailed look at what to expect, with a focus on the practical aspects of security internships.

Compensation: Will You Get Paid?

Whether or not you get paid for a security internship depends on several factors, including:

• Laws in Your Country: Many countries have strict regulations against unpaid internships due to their history of being overused and exploitative.
• Company Policy: Some organizations value interns and offer competitive pay, while others may provide unpaid opportunities with the promise of experience.

Before accepting an unpaid internship, ensure it aligns with your financial situation and career goals. Also, verify that the internship complies with local labor laws. The more valuable the work you are going to perform, the more likely you should get paid.

Once you've established the terms of your internship, the next step is understanding the kind of work you may be assigned.

Working on Real Engagements: Rare, Especially Early On

You’re likely not going to be working on live client engagements at the start of your internship. Here’s why:

• Client Confidentiality: Companies are hesitant to let interns handle sensitive client data or systems, especially without prior experience.
• Risk of Errors: Testing applications or interacting with production systems involves a potential risk of causing disruptions. Companies typically prefer to assign these tasks to experienced staff to minimize the risk.
• Trust and Training: It takes time for a company to assess your skills and build confidence in your work.

Instead, you may:

• Shadow Senior Staff: If you're lucky, you might observe engagements to learn how professionals handle real-world scenarios.
• Review Reports: If you're extremely lucky, you might get to review reports. These can provide valuable insights into how findings are documented and communicated, though access may be limited due to confidentiality.
• Work on Internal Projects: Many interns are tasked with projects that benefit the company indirectly, such as:
  • Researching new tools or techniques.
  • Automating repetitive tasks.
  • Developing internal methodologies or processes.
  • Testing security setups in non-production environments.

If you do work on real clients, make sure you're not alone on an engagement. Being left unsupported in such scenarios can lead to mistakes and unnecessary stress—a situation no company should impose on an intern. Your primary role is to learn and contribute meaningfully, not to serve as cheap or unpaid labor.

Internships Are Often a Test

An internship isn’t just an opportunity for you to evaluate a potential career path—it’s also a test for the company to assess whether they want to hire you in the future. Companies will observe:

• Your ability to learn and adapt.
• How well you collaborate with others.
• Your reliability and problem-solving skills.

The projects you’re assigned often reflect this dual purpose: to provide value to the company while testing your capabilities.

The Nature of Your Work

Interns in cybersecurity often work on tasks such as:

• Research: Investigating specific vulnerabilities, frameworks, or attack techniques.
• Automation: Writing scripts to streamline repetitive processes, like log analysis or vulnerability scanning.
• Methodology Development: Creating guides or templates for security processes based on existing knowledge.
• Training Materials: Assisting in the creation of resources to educate teams or clients about cybersecurity.

These tasks may not always be glamorous, but they are vital for building your foundational skills and understanding of the field.

My Internship

For me, I was lucky to score an internship at Hervé Schauer Consultants in Paris. During the interview, the team noticed my passion for Linux and web security. They decided to challenge me by assigning me a project in a completely different domain: Windows Kernel Programming.

I worked on building a simple syscall proxy for Windows, which was an entirely new area for me at the time. This project helped me fill a significant gap in my knowledge and expanded my understanding of operating systems beyond my comfort zone. It was a pivotal moment in my learning journey and an excellent example of how internships can stretch your capabilities in unexpected ways.

Key Takeaways

Here’s what you can expect from your internship, realistically:

• You may or may not get paid, depending on location and company policy.
• Early on, you’re unlikely to work directly on sensitive client engagements.
• Your projects will likely focus on benefiting the company indirectly, such as research, automation, or process development.
• It’s a trial period for both you and the company—an opportunity to learn, grow, and demonstrate your potential.

Making the Most of Your Internship

Follow these tips to maximize your experience:

• Be Proactive: Take initiative on projects and ask for more responsibility as you grow confident.
• Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to seek guidance; internships are for learning. Google first (if the question is non-confidential), then ask for help. For sensitive or client-related questions, consult your mentor directly.
• Document Your Work: Keep a record of what you’ve done—it’s invaluable for future resumes or interviews.
• Network: Build connections with colleagues and mentors. These relationships can open doors to future opportunities.

A security internship might not always match the idealized vision of hacking into systems and finding vulnerabilities in live environments, but it is an essential stepping stone toward building a successful career. Approach it with curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn, and you’ll emerge stronger for the experience.