Miguel Hurtado: From Apprentice to Infrastructure Security Engineer

When Miguel Hurtado began his cybersecurity apprenticeship with CyberUp, he brought curiosity, motivation, and a willingness to learn. Twelve months later, he’s stepped confidently into a full-time role as an Infrastructure Security Engineer at Centene, equipped with real-world experience and a clearer sense of his future in cybersecurity.

Building Technical Confidence

Throughout his apprenticeship, Miguel strengthened both his technical and professional skills. He sharpened his attention to detail, learned to follow structured procedures, and became more confident navigating Linux systems. He also gained experience troubleshooting connectivity issues and using industry-standard tools like Nessus for vulnerability scans.

“I’ve learned how important it is to follow steps, rely on reference materials, and ask questions,” Miguel shared.

Discovering the Power of Automation

One of Miguel’s most impactful projects involved writing batch files and supporting automation tasks. This experience sparked his interest in scalable, efficient security practices—and showed him just how vital automation is in the cybersecurity field.

“It really opened my eyes to the role of automation in making cybersecurity stronger and more streamlined,” he said.

Overcoming Challenges with Support

Like many apprentices, Miguel encountered challenges—especially when interpreting complex vulnerability tickets. But he leaned into his team for guidance, learning to problem-solve with support from more experienced colleagues. This willingness to seek help became one of his greatest strengths.

Looking Ahead: Continuous Growth

With encouragement from his mentors and CyberUp, Miguel began exploring cloud certifications. He’s currently working toward the AWS Solutions Architect certification and using CyberUp’s alumni resources to stay focused. Though still early in this journey, Miguel is eager to keep learning and expanding his knowledge.

What the Apprenticeship Meant to Miguel

Miguel describes the apprenticeship as an experience that gave him access to tools, language, and environments he wouldn’t have encountered elsewhere. Getting paid to learn, being surrounded by knowledgeable teammates, and having a clear path forward made the experience invaluable.

Paying It Forward

Now in a full-time engineering role, Miguel is continuing to grow while also looking for ways to give back. He’s expressed interest in becoming a mentor through CyberUp’s youth programs and staying active in the alumni network.

“This apprenticeship gave me a foundation I couldn’t have built on my own,” Miguel said. “It showed me what’s possible—and now I’m ready to keep going.”

Are You Ready to Start Your Cybersecurity Journey?

If you're inspired by Miguel's story, CyberUp’s apprenticeship program can help you take that first step. Let’s build a more diverse, skilled cybersecurity workforce—one apprentice at a time.