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Jr. Cybersecurity Analyst

Nicole

A Bit About Me

My journey into the world of cybersecurity began unexpectedly in 2019 when I attended the Hacker Halted conference in Atlanta, Georgia. That day was truly transformative—it introduced me to the fascinating world of cybersecurity and the endless opportunities to solve complex challenges while protecting digital environments. Hacker Halted remains one of my favorite events; I love networking with like-minded professionals and diving into the hands-on challenges and activities that push me to think critically and creatively.

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Since then, I’ve committed myself to building a strong foundation in cybersecurity. I have recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity at Western Governors University, where I’ve had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through labs and projects. I’ve worked on tasks like analyzing network traffic with Wireshark, mapping topologies with Zenmap, implementing security controls, and conducting forensic investigations using tools like Autopsy. One of my proudest accomplishments was placing in the top 100 as part of a team in the National Cyber League competition, where I developed collaboration skills and applied theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios under pressure.

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I currently work as a Jr. Cybersecurity Analyst intern with the SecOps team, where I use tools like Splunk to monitor security events, assist with firewall tasks in Palo Alto, and help investigate and resolve phishing-related tickets. I also lead phishing simulation campaigns using GoPhish to improve organizational awareness and response. This role has strengthened my hands-on experience in incident response, threat detection, and security operations.

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In addition to my internship, I work full-time as an IT Support Analyst, where I manage user accounts in Okta and Azure AD, assist with MFA setup, and help enforce IT security policies. This position has provided a strong foundation in troubleshooting, user support, and identity management—all of which complement my cybersecurity goals.

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Outside of my professional and academic pursuits, I’m a naturally creative person who loves to express myself in different ways. I enjoy making jewelry, listening to music, and exploring genres from around the world. A fun fact about me is that I once played over six instruments during my time as a practicing musician. Creativity has always been a core part of who I am, and I find it helps me think outside the box when solving challenges, whether in cybersecurity or in everyday life.

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 I’m motivated by curiosity and a passion for problem-solving, and I’m actively working toward transitioning into a full-time cybersecurity position such as a Cybersecurity Analyst or Cybersecurity Engineer, where I can apply my growing skills to help protect digital environments and make a meaningful impact in the cybersecurity field.

Certifications

CompTIA A+ | Technical Troubleshooting, Operating Systems, Hardware & Software Support

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CompTIA Network+ | Network Troubleshooting, Network Security, VPN Implementation

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CompTIA Security+ | Incident Response, Security Policies & Procedures, Threat Detection

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ITILv4 |IT Service Management, Incident Management, Problem Management

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ISC2 SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner) | Access Controls, Security Ops, Incident Detection

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CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) | Log Analysis, Threat Hunting, Network Behavior Monitoring

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CompTIA Pentest+ |  Attacks & Exploits, Web App Testing, Reconnaissance

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Stackable Certifications: 

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CompTIA CIOS (Stackable Cert) | IT Operations Specialist

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CompTIA CSIS (Stackable Cert) | Secure Infrastructure Specialist 

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CompTIA CSAP (Stackable Cert) | Security Analytics Professional 

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CompTIA CNVP (Stackable Cert) | Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional

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CompTIA CNSP (Stackable Cert) | Network Security Professional 

Education

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Cybersecurity 

Western Governors University | June 2025

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Associate Degree in General Studies

Perimeter College at Georgia State University | May 2013

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High School Diploma

Dekalb Early College Academy | May 2013

Non-Professional Experience

DoD Cyber Sentinel Challenge Spring 2024

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National Cyber League August 2023-April 2024 (Fall & Spring)

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Digital Defense Foundation, Pen-testing Mentorship Cohort December 2023 - February 2023

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Women in Technology Club, Vice President 2021-2022

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Work Experience

IT Support Analyst, Help Desk

June 2023 - Current Position

Communications Tech III

August 2021 - June 2023
 

Junior Software Engineer

Cybersecurity Analyst, Junior

June 2023 - Current Position

December 2019 - March 2020

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  • Led a full-scale phishing simulation campaign using GoPhish. Coordinated with cross-functional teams to identify target users, created a custom HTML landing page, and built the campaign end-to-end. Tracked engagement metrics, analyzed results, and delivered actionable insights to strengthen the organization’s security posture.

  • Tracked user interactions and engagement metrics, then analyzed results to identify high-risk behaviors. Delivered a final report with tailored recommendations to improve security awareness across the organization.

  • Conducted advanced log analysis using Splunk, writing custom queries to investigate security alerts, trace suspicious activity across systems, and support incident response workflows.

  • Performed detailed traffic and threat analysis in Palo Alto, using queries to identify unauthorized access attempts and policy violations. Collaborated with senior analysts to escalate critical findings and fine-tune firewall rules.​

  • Maximized student and faculty satisfaction by ensuring maximum uptime of production environments

  • Provided customer support for students and staff on multiple platforms

  • Managed access controls, password resets, MFA assistance, and account recovery, using Okta and Azure

  • Demonstrated effective troubleshooting techniques using probing questions and root cause analysis to reduce ticket resolution time

  • Utilized ITSM tools like Jira for ticket tracking and escalated unresolved incidents to the appropriate team

  • Assisted in the development and maintenance of support documentation and knowledge base articles

  • Monitored security cameras and managed access control systems to ensure only authorized personnel entered secure areas

  • Handled incident response through communication systems, directing emergency services to respond to critical incidents efficiently

  • Conducted real-time troubleshooting of dispatch technologies, reducing technical downtime

  • Maintained detailed logs and reports of communications and incidents to ensure compliance and improve response times

  • Collaborated in teams to apply studies on JavaScript, HTML, and SQL to complete program milestones

  • Participated in code reviews sessions to solidify learned skills and ensure quality and performance

  • Developed and maintained web applications, ensuring they met requirements

  • Assisted in the design and development of software solutions for various projects

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