“I love that every cybersecurity elective includes a lab where we practice the techniques covered in lectures”

Read a Q&A with Duke Cybersecurity student and US veteran Phillipe Archin, who served as an Infantry Rifleman in the United States Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Why did you apply for the ME in Cybersecurity? What career goals did you come to Duke with?

I applied for the ME in Cybersecurity to strengthen my skills as a cybersecurity professional and develop my leadership abilities. Coming from a DFIR background, I wanted to learn more about the other domains of cybersecurity.

Have you found your internship? If so, how have you secured it?

I found an internship with Coalfire and secured it by applying for their annual internship openings in Risk and Cybersecurity services.

Name 2-3 of the most critical skills you gained during the program.

One of the most important skills I gained during the program was the ability to perform effective research and present the findings of my research in both literature reviews and presentations.

The second most important skill I learned was how to identify and hire effective team members based on their background, recent performance, and the position’s requirements.

What do you like most about the Duke Cyber program?

I love that every cybersecurity elective includes technical labs that offer hands-on opportunities to work with the tools and techniques covered in the lectures. Practicing what we discussed during lectures in simulated environments helped me retain the knowledge and gave me more insight into how the concepts were practiced in the real world.

Name one course you found particularly important or relevant and why.

As someone who has conducted phishing email campaigns, I found CYBERSEC 531 (Human Element in Cybersecurity) particularly important. This course focuses on the cognitive influence mechanisms used to craft an effective phishing email. Understanding which mechanisms might make targets susceptible can make phishing emails far more convincing and effective.