Meet Phil Nguyen: SOC Analyst and Cybersecurity Enthusiast
From Curiosity to Cybersecurity: Phil’s Journey to the SOC
Phil Nguyen is a first-generation Asian American graduating this May from Louisiana State University with a degree in Computer Science, concentrating in Software Engineering. He holds a CompTIA ITF+ certification and has been actively honing his skills at the LONI SOC for the past year.
His path to cybersecurity began with an elective course during his junior year—an introductory class taught by Darrell Miller that sparked his interest through real-world case studies and expert insight. That course also led him to his current role, where he’s tackled over 800 security events, identified 17 true positives, and earned an impressive average audit score of 4.9 out of 5.
Real-World Experience and a Memorable Threat
Phil’s most memorable experience to date involved identifying suspicious Storm-0426/DPAPI activity—flagged as a true positive due to malicious PowerShell commands. Thanks to quick action, the device was isolated by the client, and the threat was neutralized. It’s moments like this that have solidified Phil’s interest in threat detection and incident response.
What Drives Him
Ask Phil what he enjoys most about working in the SOC, and he’ll tell you: it’s the collaborative environment. “Everyone is willing to share knowledge and help each other out,” he says. “Having a TekStream analyst available on call made it easy to get help whenever I needed it.”
Through his time in the SOC, Phil has gained hands-on experience with Splunk SOAR and ES, developed strong communication skills, and learned the critical importance of working as a team.
Looking Ahead
Phil is excited about the future and is currently exploring full-time SOC Analyst opportunities starting as early as June. He’s open to relocation and flexible with remote or in-person positions.
His ideal role? A weekday SOC Analyst position where he can continue to build on his threat detection and incident response skills in a supportive, team-oriented environment.
Words of Advice
For students considering a career in cybersecurity, Phil offers simple but valuable advice:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t let a lack of experience hold you back—there’s always room to grow, and that’s what training is for.”
Wrapping It Up
Phil Nguyen embodies the curiosity, work ethic, and adaptability that make a great SOC Analyst. Whether he’s analyzing alerts, collaborating with teammates, or exploring new cities in his free time, Phil brings energy and thoughtfulness to everything he does. We’re excited to see what’s next for him—and we know he’s just getting started.
Let us know if you’re interested in learning more about Phil and his SOC experience!
Download the full program overview now!