Over the past four weeks at the Northwestern Cybersecurity Bootcamp, we’ve delved into advanced penetration testing and cybersecurity strategies. We mastered lateral movement and process migration within networks, pushing our skills by exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, Linux, and Windows servers. We refined our analytical capabilities through in-depth log analysis and SIEM integration with Splunk, designing sophisticated alerts and correlation rules. We also focused on visualizing cybersecurity data, creating dashboards with geographical insights and differentiating advanced monitoring solutions like SOARs and UBAs. This month transformed my understanding of cybersecurity practices, sharpening both technical skills and strategic thinking in network defense.