Welcoming the next generation of cyber security talent to Solis.
At Solis, we're passionate about developing the next generation of cyber security professionals. This year, we're delighted to welcome four talented placement students who will be gaining hands-on experience across a range of teams throughout their placement year.
Over the coming months, they will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced cyber security professionals, develop their technical and professional skills, and gain valuable insight into the industry. We asked each of them to introduce themselves and share their first impressions of life at Solis.
Sakar Rai
Hi, my name is Sakar Rai and I'm one of the Cyber Security placement students for this year, and I'll be in Cyber Incident Management (CIM) for my first six months. I've recently finished my second year at King's College London studying Computer Science and have been part of CFC for nearly a month. Because of university, I've lived in London for two years and love this city, so I'm thrilled to be here for another year, though I'll be commuting from Reading.
Working in CIM, I feel that I have learned so much already. So far, I've joined numerous triage calls where I'm learning how to communicate effectively and gather information whilst also offering advice and support to clients. I've started to be given responsibilities such as writing summaries, updating tickets and spreadsheets, listening to project meetings, and even monitoring the dark web. I'm excited to continue to grow and polish these skills so that I'll be able to triage independently.
I'm very appreciative of the whole CIM team, who allow me to shadow them and go out of their way to explain tasks and incidents to me. I'm also so grateful to the whole of Solis for being so welcoming since the very start and for creating such an amazing work environment.
I'm excited for this year and for what is to come: improving my skills, socialising with the other interns and teams, and trying out all the different food spots during lunch breaks.
Oliver James
My name is Oliver James, and I am studying Cyber Security and Computer Forensics at the University of Portsmouth. I am currently undertaking my industrial placement year with Solis, working within the Global Security Operations (GSO) team.
Finding the right placement was a lengthy process, with the goal of securing a role that would provide meaningful real-world experience and professional development. After applying to more than 50 organisations, Solis quickly stood out due to its strong reputation within the cybersecurity industry and its well-structured rotational placement programme.
Since joining the company, I have been made to feel incredibly welcome. The supportive culture has made it easy to settle in, and everyone is encouraged to learn, develop, and ask questions. One aspect that has stood out to me is the emphasis on the idea that there are “no stupid questions”, which creates an environment where learning and growth are actively encouraged.
For the first six months of my placement, I will be working within the GSO team before rotating into Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR). During my first few weeks, I have already gained valuable exposure to cybersecurity operations through supporting client queries and successfully completing a recognised certification relating to endpoint detection and response.
I am excited to continue developing my technical knowledge, gaining hands-on industry experience, and making the most of the opportunities available throughout my placement.
Ayrton Cook
Hi, I'm Ayrton Cook, and I'm studying Computer Science at the University of East Anglia. I applied for this placement because of the unique perspective it offers on cyber security, and I'm hoping that by the end of the year I'll be able to contribute confidently and independently as part of the team.
I'm currently working within the Incident Response team. Although I haven't been here for long, I've already had plenty of opportunities to shadow colleagues, sit in on meetings, and see how investigations are handled in practice. I've quickly started to feel part of the team, and I'm looking forward to continuing to develop my skills and gradually taking on more responsibility during investigations.
One thing I've particularly enjoyed so far is seeing how incident response works in a real business environment. At university, much of my experience has been focused on the technical side of cyber security, so it has been interesting to see how technical investigation, communication and decision-making all come together during an incident. Over the coming months, I'm looking forward to developing a better understanding of the investigation process, becoming more familiar with the tools used by the team, and learning from the experience of the people around me.
Mariam Ahmed
Hello everyone, my name is Mariam Ahmed, and I study Computer Science at Brunel University. I am currently a Cyber Security Placement Student and have recently begun my first six-month rotation within the CTRL team (Cyber Threat Research Labs), before later moving into the CIM team (Cyber Incident Management). Although I have been here for just under a month, I have already learned a huge amount about threat intelligence, vulnerability research, and security investigations. Working alongside the team has given me valuable insight into how cyber security professionals identify emerging threats, assess potential risks, and help organisations strengthen their security posture.
During my time in CTRL, I have had the opportunity to explore a range of areas within cyber security, from researching vulnerabilities and emerging threats to supporting investigations and learning how threat intelligence is used in practice. Every day has presented new challenges and learning opportunities, helping me develop both my technical knowledge and understanding of the industry. What has stood out most, however, is the supportive and collaborative environment within the team. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and willing to share their expertise, making it a fantastic place to learn and grow.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience so far and am excited to continue building on what I have learned throughout the remainder of this rotation. Looking ahead, I am also eager to join the CIM team and gain insight into another side of cyber security, learning more about incident management and how organisations respond to and recover from cyber incidents. I look forward to broadening my skills, taking on new challenges, and making the most of every opportunity during the rest of my placement.
Looking Ahead
We are delighted to welcome Sakar, Oliver, Ayrton and Mariam to Solis and look forward to supporting them throughout their placement year. We are excited to see them develop their skills, gain valuable industry experience, and contribute to the work we do in helping organisations prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats.
