Hi Hounds! In this week’s Highlighting Hounds interview, we are featuring Harrison Puntillo ’26 and his insights from his internship at LemniSec LLC, a Cybersecurity consulting firm that focuses on leadership and strategy within the field. As an intern, Harrison was tasked with researching Cloud Security and Web Application Security principles and applying these to the development of a functional website. He detailed his role in building and securing the website, including implementing features like Multi-Factor Authentication and Google’s reCAPTCHA API. Harrison also spoke about how the internship helped him hone his skills and deepen his knowledge of Cybersecurity, especially through valuable hands-on experience and presentations to potential business clients. His reflections on his involvement in Assumption’s Cybersecurity Club and the lessons he’s learned about adaptability and professional growth offer a glimpse into his future ambitions in the Cybersecurity field. Read more to learn about Harrison’s experience, and what advice he has to offer!
Could you give a brief overview of the company that you intern with, as well as what your position is?
LemniSec LLC is a company that specializes in Cybersecurity consulting, specifically with focuses in Cybersecurity leadership and overall strategy within organizations. My role as an intern was to research a variety of Cloud Security and Web Application Security principles. Then, I was responsible for applying those principles into a website with certain requirements at the direction of the company’s owner.
Could you describe a typical day as an intern? What are your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
Typically, I spent each day doing a variety of things. I would research a certain aspect of the website that needed to be implemented. This consisted of the website’s initial creation, configuring account creation within the cloud, setting up external APIs for use with the website, among other things. I would then spend time implementing the desired feature and troubleshooting if something needed to be changed.
Were you involved in any major projects or accomplishments as an intern?
My research culminated in a fully functional website that is hosted in Microsoft Azure (Microsoft’s version of the cloud). I was able to implement security features like requiring Multi-Factor Authentication for logging in and creating an account, as well as using Google’s reCAPTCHA API in order to deter bots from entering false submissions. I then had the opportunity to present this website to a new business lead for LemniSec which was a valuable experience for me as I was able to learn how to present and interact with other businesses.
What are your career goals? How will this internship help you reach those goals?
My overarching goal is to work at a Cybersecurity organization in Massachusetts who has as much passion for Cybersecurity as I do. In order to do that, I knew I would need some experience working for a company that pushed me to learn new concepts within the field. I am grateful to have had an opportunity to learn more about Cybersecurity and how it fits within businesses that need it.
Why did you apply to this internship? What aspects of the position/company interested you?
I applied for this internship with the hope of applying Cybersecurity concepts that I had learned in my classes as well as learning new topics outside of class. Considering that the internship required me to research Cloud and Web Application Security, I knew that I would be able to learn a lot of concepts that might not be covered in some of my classes. In addition to that, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work under the direction of an experienced professional and be able to gain some unique insight from their time within the Cybersecurity field.
What inspired you to become involved in the Cybersecurity Club?
When I started at Assumption, I knew that I wanted to major in Cybersecurity. I started to go to the weekly Cybersecurity Club meetings during the fall of my freshman year because I knew that it would be a good way to get involved on campus as well as a good opportunity to meet other people that are as interested in Cybersecurity as I am. It is also because of the Cybersecurity Club that I had the opportunity to take part in the NCAE Cyber Games which was definitely a great experience for me to learn to work with a team.
What do you consider the most rewarding aspect of your experience and involvement, and how do you see this experience influencing your career?
Beyond being able to work on projects and expand my own knowledge in the field, I have found that getting to connect with other Cybersecurity professionals has been the most rewarding. Through my experiences at Assumption and LemniSec, I have met many talented individuals who I have learned from and continue to work with, to this day.
What are your key takeaways from your experiences? What skills did you gain?
I’ve been able to learn a variety of things from Assumption’s Cybersecurity program, the Cybersecurity Club as well as my internship at LemniSec. I’ve been able to sharpen my ability to think critically, work within groups as well as be open to learning new things. I feel that these are a good set of skills to build on as I continue working in the Cybersecurity field.
If you could share one lesson you’ve learned from your time at Assumption, what would it be, and how has it impacted your approach to leadership and personal development?
The most important lesson I have learned at Assumption is to never shy away from learning something new or facing a daunting challenge. We are able to grow as people when we work through new challenges as they appear. It has helped me come to understand the nature of Cybersecurity as it is a field that is constantly changing. Being able to adapt to changes and grow, both personally and professionally, is a crucial lesson that I’ve learned through my experience at Assumption.
If you are interested in being featured on Highlighting Hounds or know of any students who would be a strong candidate, please email us at careerdevelopment@assumption.edu!
