Cybersecurity Intern Jobs in Illinois
Cybersecurity Intern jobs in Illinois are concentrated in financial services, healthcare IT, defense contracting, and enterprise technology, with the state ranking among the most active markets in the Midwest for early-career security talent. Chicago drives the majority of hiring, with Naperville and Springfield also producing consistent openings, and employers like Accenture, Boeing, and Northwestern Medicine running established intern programs. The most in-demand specialties are network security monitoring, vulnerability assessment, and security operations center support. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Cybersecurity Intern jobs
- Hands-on experience working as a member of a specific department, team, and or location.
- Assigned projects to accelerate learning of key functions and processes.
- Cross-functional exposure to various departments.
- Comprehensive overview of the company structure and strategy.
- Tailored professional development sessions and valuable networking opportunities.
- Capstone presentation to leadership, showing project outcomes and recommendations.
TEAM OVERVIEW:
Join an exceptional team within Ulta Beauty’s Cybersecurity & Digital Trust that leads Ulta Beauty's Data Privacy and Security Awareness initiatives, with a commitment to protecting our guests, associates, and communities. As the retail landscape continues to evolve, so do the requirements for safeguarding guest data and maintaining trust.
The Data Privacy & Security Awareness Internship provides hands-on experience in understanding how organizations collect, manage, protect, and govern personal information while adhering to evolving privacy regulations and industry best practices. The intern will also assist in developing and delivering security awareness communications, training materials, and educational content to help promote a strong culture of security and privacy across the organization. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Legal, Compliance, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Product Management, and Business Operations, to help ensure the responsible collection, use, storage, and protection of personal data.
Through this internship, candidates will gain valuable exposure to privacy regulations, privacy-by-design principles, privacy impact and risk assessments, data governance frameworks, creating security awareness materials and emerging privacy & security challenges within a dynamic and fast-paced retail technology environment. This experience provides a strong foundation for a career in data privacy, cybersecurity, risk management, or compliance.
INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist in monitoring compliance with U.S. privacy laws and regulations, including support for privacy program activities related to CCPA, CPRA, and other applicable requirements.
- Help maintain privacy documentation, records of processing activities, and evidence supporting compliance initiatives.
- Participate in Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for new products, services, technologies, and business initiatives.
- Assist with documenting data flows and maintaining enterprise data inventories to support privacy and governance activities.
- Analyze how personal data is collected, used, shared, stored, and retained across business processes and technology systems.
- Support the development of timely, accessible privacy and cybersecurity awareness communications, training materials, and educational content for associates across the organization with relevant context and compelling calls to action.
- Assist team in preparing educating, engaging events and activities with creativity that strengthen the cybersecurity posture of all Associates across Ulta Beauty.
- Support various simulated social engineering exercise development, results analysis and presentation, and post-campaign education actions.
- Assist in preparing executive summaries, metrics, reports, and presentations for leadership to communicate privacy and cybersecurity awareness program progress, updates, and risk insights.
- Contribute to communications related to privacy initiatives, regulatory developments, and policy updates.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Legal, Compliance, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Product Management, and Business Operations, to support privacy-by-design and data protection efforts. Support data governance and privacy risk management activities by identifying and documenting privacy risks and recommending remediation actions where appropriate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Pursuing a degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
- Familiarity with Power BI and data visualization tools
- Understanding data governance and privacy management tools such as Microsoft Purview, OneTrust.
- Basic SQL skills for data analysis and reporting
- Familiarity with collaboration platforms including Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Jira, and Confluence.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, presentation, and written communication skills
- Desire to work in a fast-paced environment and interact with various levels of leadership
REQUIREMENTS:
- Preferable: Bolingbrook, IL
- Must be a rising Junior or Senior enrolled in an accredited undergraduate university in the summer of 2027.
- Previous work experience and active involvement with on-campus organizations or activities.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, attention to detail, and sense of urgency.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.
- Hands-on experience working as a member of a specific department, team, and or location.
- Assigned projects to accelerate learning of key functions and processes.
- Cross-functional exposure to various departments.
- Comprehensive overview of the company structure and strategy.
- Tailored professional development sessions and valuable networking opportunities.
- Capstone presentation to leadership, showing project outcomes and recommendations.
TEAM OVERVIEW:
Join an exceptional team within Ulta Beauty’s Cybersecurity & Digital Trust that leads Ulta Beauty's Data Privacy and Security Awareness initiatives, with a commitment to protecting our guests, associates, and communities. As the retail landscape continues to evolve, so do the requirements for safeguarding guest data and maintaining trust.
The Data Privacy & Security Awareness Internship provides hands-on experience in understanding how organizations collect, manage, protect, and govern personal information while adhering to evolving privacy regulations and industry best practices. The intern will also assist in developing and delivering security awareness communications, training materials, and educational content to help promote a strong culture of security and privacy across the organization. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Legal, Compliance, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Product Management, and Business Operations, to help ensure the responsible collection, use, storage, and protection of personal data.
Through this internship, candidates will gain valuable exposure to privacy regulations, privacy-by-design principles, privacy impact and risk assessments, data governance frameworks, creating security awareness materials and emerging privacy & security challenges within a dynamic and fast-paced retail technology environment. This experience provides a strong foundation for a career in data privacy, cybersecurity, risk management, or compliance.
INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist in monitoring compliance with U.S. privacy laws and regulations, including support for privacy program activities related to CCPA, CPRA, and other applicable requirements.
- Help maintain privacy documentation, records of processing activities, and evidence supporting compliance initiatives.
- Participate in Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for new products, services, technologies, and business initiatives.
- Assist with documenting data flows and maintaining enterprise data inventories to support privacy and governance activities.
- Analyze how personal data is collected, used, shared, stored, and retained across business processes and technology systems.
- Support the development of timely, accessible privacy and cybersecurity awareness communications, training materials, and educational content for associates across the organization with relevant context and compelling calls to action.
- Assist team in preparing educating, engaging events and activities with creativity that strengthen the cybersecurity posture of all Associates across Ulta Beauty.
- Support various simulated social engineering exercise development, results analysis and presentation, and post-campaign education actions.
- Assist in preparing executive summaries, metrics, reports, and presentations for leadership to communicate privacy and cybersecurity awareness program progress, updates, and risk insights.
- Contribute to communications related to privacy initiatives, regulatory developments, and policy updates.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Legal, Compliance, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Product Management, and Business Operations, to support privacy-by-design and data protection efforts. Support data governance and privacy risk management activities by identifying and documenting privacy risks and recommending remediation actions where appropriate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Pursuing a degree in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
- Familiarity with Power BI and data visualization tools
- Understanding data governance and privacy management tools such as Microsoft Purview, OneTrust.
- Basic SQL skills for data analysis and reporting
- Familiarity with collaboration platforms including Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Jira, and Confluence.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, presentation, and written communication skills
- Desire to work in a fast-paced environment and interact with various levels of leadership
REQUIREMENTS:
- Preferable: Bolingbrook, IL
- Must be a rising Junior or Senior enrolled in an accredited undergraduate university in the summer of 2027.
- Previous work experience and active involvement with on-campus organizations or activities.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, attention to detail, and sense of urgency.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.
See All 6 Cybersecurity Intern Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Cybersecurity Intern JobsCybersecurity Intern Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Cybersecurity Intern Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cybersecurity intern jobs across Illinois.
- Enrollment in a bachelor's or master's degree program in cybersecurity, computer science, or information systems
- Foundational knowledge of networking concepts, protocols, and operating systems including Linux and Windows
- Familiarity with security tools such as SIEM platforms, firewalls, or vulnerability scanners
- Completion of or active progress toward CompTIA Security+ or equivalent entry-level certification
- Ability to obtain a background check clearance, required by Illinois financial and healthcare employers
- Strong written communication skills for documenting findings and presenting risk summaries to non-technical staff
Cybersecurity Intern Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cybersecurity intern in Illinois?
Becoming a cybersecurity intern in Illinois starts with enrollment in an accredited degree program in cybersecurity, information technology, or computer science at an Illinois university or community college. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for cybersecurity roles, so candidates build credibility through coursework and vendor-neutral certifications like CompTIA Security+. Employers in Chicago's financial district and healthcare corridor also value hands-on lab experience, capture-the-flag competition participation, and coursework aligned with NIST frameworks.
Which companies hire cybersecurity interns in Illinois?
Illinois cybersecurity intern roles are posted by US Foods, Ulta, and Crowe and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in Chicago and major defense and healthcare employers in the suburbs means intern programs tend to be structured and repeat annually.
Which Illinois cities have the most cybersecurity intern jobs?
Chicago, Rosemont, and Bolingbrook have the most cybersecurity intern openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to a dense cluster of financial institutions, consulting firms, and healthcare systems that run active intern programs, while suburban hubs like Naperville and Schaumburg draw additional volume from technology and defense contractors headquartered along the I-88 corridor.
Are there remote cybersecurity intern jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than many entry-level fields, since much cybersecurity work involves analyzing logs, reviewing alerts, and running scans that do not require physical access to hardware. About 100% of cybersecurity intern openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the desk-based nature of roles like security operations center monitoring and threat intelligence research. Positions involving on-site lab access or government facility clearance work are typically in-person.
How can I get hired as a cybersecurity intern in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to structured intern programs at large Illinois employers like Accenture, Allstate, or Advocate Aurora Health, which recruit directly from Illinois universities and do not require prior professional experience. Building a home lab, completing free training through platforms tied to the National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, and earning CompTIA Security+ before applying all strengthen a candidate's profile. Adjacent starting points include IT help desk roles at Illinois managed service providers, which regularly promote internally into security analyst intern tracks.
Where can I find and apply to cybersecurity intern jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to cybersecurity intern jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, location preference, and availability, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 6 Cybersecurity Intern Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Cybersecurity Intern Jobs