Information Security Analyst Intern (Placement year) Review

In my role within the Global Cybersecurity team, I support day‑to‑day security operations and help monitor and respond to potential threats across the organisation.
On a daily basis, I review and investigate security incidents, monitor alerts, and respond to issues such as phishing emails, risky user activity, and suspicious sign‑ins. I also manage inputs from sources like user‑reported emails and external breach notifications, ensuring any identified risks are assessed and remediated appropriately.
In addition, I contribute to documentation, reporting, and process improvements, including supporting initiatives such as detection validation procedures and migration activities to improve security operations. This role has given me hands‑on experience across incident response, user security, and operational monitoring in a real enterprise environment.

Yes, I was given a good level of responsibility during my placement. From early on, I was trusted to work on real security incidents rather than just shadowing. Over time, I became more independent in reviewing alerts, investigating issues such as phishing and suspicious activity, and taking appropriate remediation steps.
In addition to day‑to‑day operational tasks, I also contributed to documentation, reporting, and ongoing initiatives to improve processes and consistency. This level of responsibility allowed me to build confidence, develop practical skills, and gain a clear understanding of how security operations function in a real enterprise environment.

Yes, I’ve developed both new and existing skills during my placement. I strengthened my technical skills by working on real‑world security incidents, including investigating alerts, analysing suspicious activity, and carrying out remediation actions. This helped me build practical experience in incident response and risk assessment.
I also developed my analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills, particularly when identifying root causes and ensuring issues were fully resolved. In addition, I improved my documentation and communication skills through reporting, contributing to processes, and collaborating with the team. Overall, the placement helped me transition from theoretical knowledge to applying those skills confidently in a real operational environment.

I received a good level of support and guidance throughout my placement. Early on, the team provided clear direction and was always available to answer questions, which helped me build confidence as I settled into the role.
As I progressed, I was given more independence, but support was still available whenever needed. Regular guidance, feedback, and knowledge sharing from both my manager and the team were key in helping me develop my skills and understanding of security operations.
Overall, it was a good balance between support and autonomy, which really helped my learning and growth.

The company culture was very supportive and collaborative. The team was approachable and open to questions, which made it easy to learn and integrate into the environment. There was a strong focus on knowledge sharing, and I felt encouraged to take initiative and contribute.
The overall atmosphere was professional but also welcoming, with a good balance between independence and teamwork. This created a positive environment where I could build confidence while continuously learning.

I really enjoyed my placement. It was a great opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge in a real‑world environment and work on meaningful security tasks. I particularly enjoyed being involved in incident investigations and gaining hands‑on experience.
The supportive team environment and opportunities to take on responsibility made the experience both engaging and rewarding. Overall, it was a very positive learning experience that helped me grow both technically and professionally.

Yes