KEY TAKEAWAYS
Every spring, a new wave of graduates steps into the workforce, hoping to find a place where they're more than just a name on a payroll. At SBS CyberSecurity, our interns and former interns say the same thing: From day one, they were trusted with real work, surrounded by people who genuinely wanted them to succeed, and given a clear view of how their contributions fit into the bigger picture.
Curious what it's really like to intern at SBS? We asked nine current and former interns about remote teamwork, mentorship, and the hands-on cybersecurity projects that shaped their careers. Here's what they said, in their own words.
"Bringing interns into SBS is one of the most energizing parts of my role. We're not just giving them tasks — we're giving them context. Our internship experience is intentionally comprehensive, so interns can see the big picture and understand how their work directly supports the mission. Between mentor support within their department, shadowing across teams, book clubs, lunch-and-learns, and being included in company retreats, they get fully immersed in SBS — and they leave with real confidence in how they can grow at the start of their careers."
— Janet Reider, Executive Assistant and Internship Coordinator
Why SBS?
For many of our interns, the path to SBS started close to home — at the Dakota State University (DSU) Career Fair, through a college project, or simply from hearing about a local cybersecurity company doing work that mattered.
Blake Schmiedt (DSU Cyber Operations B.S. '25, Computer Science M.S. '26 — network security intern who just stepped into a network security engineer role this month) found his way to SBS through that classic South Dakota pipeline:
"Every year at the DSU Career Fair, the SBS booth always has a buzz around it. The network security intern position is highly competitive among Beacom students, which immediately caught my attention. After talking with former interns and current employees, the experience they described stood out as a rare opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to offensive security, something that is not easy to find in this area."
For Eli Abbott (DSU Cyber Operations B.S. '22, Computer Science M.S. '24 — now a network security engineer), the local connection was a major draw:
"I learned about SBS from the DSU Career Fair, and I liked their mission and expertise — and the fact that they were local."
Dylan Kreutzfeldt (DSU Network and System Administration B.S. '15 — now a senior information security consultant) echoed the sentiment:
"It was a huge benefit to have a cybersecurity company right in the back yard of the university. I got the opportunity to not only learn from professionals but also engage with the clients we serve."
Ethan Tesch (DSU Cyber Operations B.S. '23 — now a network security engineer) found SBS the same way:
"I was looking for an internship as a way to get my first look into the cybersecurity industry. I came across SBS because it was local, and after learning more about what the company does, I became very interested in the work and the opportunity to be part of the team."
For others, it was the work itself that pulled them in. Aniket Jha (Coventry University Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity B.S. '23, DSU Information Systems M.S., class of 2026 — data analyst intern) saw SBS as the natural intersection of his technical background and passion:
"I wanted to intern at SBS because it was the perfect place to combine my technical background with my passion for data. I saw this internship at SBS as a vital step toward my goal of becoming a data scientist."
Logan Hight (South Dakota State University Mathematics and Data Science B.S., class of 2026 — data analyst intern) was drawn by the breadth a smaller team could offer:
"I was drawn to SBS because it's a small but fast-growing team, which meant I would have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience across multiple facets of data work. From the beginning, the company culture stood out. It genuinely feels like a family, and I get the chance to work alongside the best in the business."
For Nick Weir (DSU Mathematics and Computer Science B.S. '24, Artificial Intelligence M.S. '25 — now an AI software developer), it started with a college project:
"I had worked on a project for SBS during college, where we tried creating deepfake awareness training. I really love AI, and I was happy with the progress I made on that project. When I saw a position for an AI intern, I just knew I had to apply."
Real Work from Day One
If there's one theme that came up in nearly every conversation, it's this: SBS interns aren't sidelined to busywork. They're trusted with projects that have real impact, and that trust is what fuels their growth.
"What surprised me is how quickly you get involved in meaningful work. From my first week, I was trusted with a project that had real impact not just on my team but across the company. You are not just observing, you are actively contributing and taking on responsibility right away, which makes the experience both challenging and rewarding."
— Blake Schmiedt
Bibhor Acharya (Tribhuvan University Civil Engineering B.E. '17, DSU Data Analytics M.S. '24 — now a data scientist) was struck by the same dynamic:
"What surprised me was the level of ownership I was given. I worked on real, impactful projects like automating asset size updates using data from the FDIC and NCUA. The trust and the ownership pushed me to grow quickly, both technically and in communication."
Jovana Bogdanovic (DSU Cyber Operations B.S. '17, Computer Science M.S. '20 — now a network security engineer) felt that trust from the start:
"The level of trust I was given made the biggest impression on me. I had a great deal of freedom when it came to managing my time and organizing my work around projects. I was not treated differently because I was an intern. Instead, I felt like a full member of the team, which made the experience both empowering and motivating."
Nick Weir had a similar realization:
"During college, I constantly heard that internships were just for learning and that interns weren't expected to make a large impact. But during my time as an intern, I was surprised that the other interns and I were being assigned work with a real impact to the company and that we were given the freedom to try new things to solve the problems in the best way that we could."
For Aniket Jha, the pace of learning was the surprise:
"What surprised me most was how quickly I was able to solve problems using technologies I had never used before, such as Power Automate and Microsoft Fabric. Being responsible for tools that impact the company's actual operations has been a truly hands-on experience."
And Logan Hight put it simply:
"The level of ownership I've had over projects has been more hands-on than I initially expected. I now work on projects from start to finish."
A Team That Has Your Back
Trust without support would be sink-or-swim. What sets SBS apart is that interns are given real responsibility and a team that's genuinely invested in helping them succeed.
"SBS cares about their people. There isn't a person who wouldn't go out of their way to lend a helping hand, take a minute to explain something, or push you in the right direction. Management understands that as their people flourish and grow, so does the organization."
— Dylan Kreutzfeldt
For Blake Schmiedt, that support came through hands-on mentorship:
"From the start, I was paired with network security engineers and shadowed them through real client engagements. Everyone is always willing to hop on a call or answer questions, which made it easy to keep learning and improving."
Aniket Jha described the open-door culture this way:
"My seniors made the transition much easier by being approachable and willing to share their expertise. I never felt overwhelmed because my senior is always just one call away."
Eli Abbott still thinks back on his mentor:
"Shout out to Tom Geraets for being an amazing intern mentor and new hire trainer after I was brought on full time. I was constantly able to ask questions about any case I was doing, and Tom and the rest of the team made learning TRAC easy."
And Logan Hight notes that the support extends beyond the technical:
"Whenever I'm stuck on a problem, someone is always willing to pause what they're doing to help me work through it. Beyond work, the team has also been supportive on a personal level, which really reinforces the sense of community here."
The biweekly lunch-and-learns at SBS's Madison, South Dakota, headquarters came up again and again:
"The biweekly lunch-and-learn sessions with Janet and the Madison team made a big difference."
— Blake Schmiedt
"The lunch-and-learns were invaluable (thank you, Janet). We talked about professional development, business culture, and various other scenarios. I know I would have still looked back at some of those conversations even if I didn't end up here at SBS."
— Eli Abbott
Connected, Even Remote
SBS is a remote-first company, but you wouldn't know it from how connected our interns feel. Traditions like our weekly Coffee Break meeting, annual company retreats, and an active team culture keep people close, no matter where they're logging in from.
"Even in a remote setup, the team feels very connected. One of the highlights is the Friday Coffee Break meeting, a company-wide tradition I haven't seen elsewhere, which makes it easy to connect with people across teams in a more informal way."
— Bibhor Acharya
"It's great to be remote here. It saves me a lot of time and money since I get to work from home. There is also a lot of independence. We have meetings to get everyone working in the right direction, but then we have the flexibility to actually work on solving what we need to solve."
— Nick Weir
For Logan Hight, the hybrid option has been the best of both worlds:
"I enjoy the flexibility of working from home while also having the option to travel to Madison and work in the office when I can. Even while remote, I still feel connected to the team through regular meetings and traditions, like our weekly Coffee Break."
Ethan Tesch found the remote model worked even better than he expected:
"Being part of a remote team at SBS is a lot of fun. I enjoy being able to connect with people across the country, and the flexibility of working from home is great. While you do miss some day-to-day in-person interactions, it has been a very positive experience overall."
And the in-person moments? They matter, too. Blake Schmiedt reflected on this year's company retreat:
"Attending the company retreat in February was a great experience. Getting to meet everyone in person and see the energy and talent across the company really reinforced how strong the team is."
A Culture That Lives Up to Its Values
Plenty of companies talk about culture. At SBS, we try to live it through our four core values: passion, compassion, innovation, and empowerment.
"I feel like a lot of companies talk about culture but fall short when it comes to actually implementing their ideas. When I joined SBS, though, I found this was absolutely not the case here. We base our culture off of a few key principles, which I found made it a lot easier to ask for help or collaborate with others."
— Nick Weir
Blake Schmiedt captured what makes SBS feel different:
"Having personal, day-to-day conversations as an intern with the CEO and president is something that almost never happens at most companies, and it really makes you feel valued. It creates an environment that feels less like a typical workplace and more like a team you want to be part of long-term."
Aniket Jha described it as the best work environment he's experienced:
"I would describe the culture at SBS as the best I have experienced. One of the most impressive aspects is the accessibility of leadership. Reaching out to seniors and managers is easy, and they are always willing to provide guidance or feedback."
Ethan Tesch summed it up in two words:
"I would describe SBS's culture as 'professional fun.' Everyone strives to deliver the best possible results for clients, but at the same time, the team enjoys working together, supports one another, and has fun along the way."
Jovana Bogdanovic put a finer point on what SBS values:
"SBS has a culture that values collaboration, curiosity, and growth. Many people across the company genuinely want to see new team members succeed and are willing to help them get there. It is an environment where asking questions is encouraged and learning is part of everyday work."
From Intern to Full-Time: The Path Forward
For many of our interns, what started as a summer or semester opportunity turned into the start of a long-term career. Seven of the nine interns we spoke with have since converted to full-time roles at SBS — including Blake, who just made the leap from intern to network security engineer this month.
Dylan Kreutzfeldt never had a roadmap — and that turned out to be okay:
"I didn't have a set roadmap for my career when I started my internship. Like many, I saw graduation as the goal, and then I would figure it out. But the more time I spent with SBS, the more I saw a place where I could not only start my career but grow in it for years to come — and 11 years later, that's certainly been the case!"
Ethan Tesch says the decision was easy:
"Once I started my internship, SBS quickly became my ideal post-graduation plan. I loved the company culture and the opportunity to work remotely, which made SBS a great fit for me long term."
For Bibhor Acharya, the shift to full-time has meant new kinds of growth:
"The biggest difference has been the shift from focusing on execution to being more involved in strategy. Now, as a full-time employee, I'm more involved in decision-making and long-term data planning. Since becoming full-time, I've had the opportunity to work on more complex projects, such as data migrations and integrations between platforms — and I've also started mentoring interns, which has been a great learning experience for me as well."
Eli Abbott, who recently moved from customer success to network security, describes the broader transition this way:
"I have far more responsibility. As an intern, you are given a piece of the puzzle, so you have a glimpse of what the job is like. As a full-time employee, you have the full picture (and far more to do)."
Nick Weir has found his footing in AI work he never imagined doing:
"I've been given a lot more ownership over my field, and there's a lot more trust in my capabilities. I have joined a lot more projects, built a lot of custom functionality, and almost learned more about programming than I did at college for my degree."
And for Blake Schmiedt, the internship made his career path crystal clear:
"Cybersecurity is such a broad field, and it is hard to know what you enjoy until you get hands-on experience. There is nothing quite like the adrenaline of a social engineering call, gaining access during a physical impersonation, or ethically breaking into a system to help secure it. That experience made it clear where I want to take my career."
Advice to Future Interns
We asked our interns what they wish they'd known before starting at SBS. Across nine very different conversations, the same themes kept coming up.
"Do not be afraid to ask questions. You are going to run into problems and things you do not understand, and that is expected. Be ready to stay busy. You are contributing real value from the start."
— Blake Schmiedt
"I wish I had known that I didn't need to be an expert in every specific tool on day one. I've learned that being adaptable and asking the right questions is the real key to succeeding in a fast-paced data science environment."
— Aniket Jha
"Even when it may seem otherwise, no one has all the answers. At SBS, where independence and self-initiative are encouraged, being comfortable asking questions and seeking clarification can make a significant difference in your professional growth."
— Jovana Bogdanovic
"I wish I had known just how quickly I would be given responsibility and trusted with meaningful work. While it felt intimidating at first, it ended up being one of the most rewarding parts of the experience."
— Logan Hight
"I've learned not only during my internship but all my time at SBS that relationships matter. We aren't the only firm that offers our products and services, but what sets us apart is the level of service we deliver and the relationships we build along the way."
— Dylan Kreutzfeldt
What's Next
For students stepping off the graduation stage and into their first roles in tech, the right internship can shape an entire career. At SBS, we're proud to be that place for so many — a small but fast-growing team where talent is trusted, mentors are accessible, and the work matters.
Curious about life at SBS? Visit our Working at SBS page. Ready to apply? Browse open roles on our career page.