Network Security Internship Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Curious how things work and how they break?
Love figuring things out?
Want hands-on IT and Sec experience that actually counts?
Summary
Are you the kind of person who can't leave a problem half-solved? Do you like the idea of touching a little bit of everything - help desk, servers, networking, and security - instead of being boxed into one lane? Are you looking for an internship where you'll learn the real-world side of IT and cybersecurity, not just shadow from the sidelines?
Perfect! You might be our next Support Technician Intern.
If you're a student looking to launch an IT or security career at a fast-growing company with a great culture, CNWR may be the right place for you. We're a tight-knit team that specializes in Network Configuration, Cyber Security, Virtualization, Automation, IT Support, and Consulting for small and mid-sized businesses.
This internship is built around the fact that you're a student - we'll work with your class schedule across semsters. You'll start by building a rock-solid foundation on our Help Desk, where every great technologist learns how real environments actually work. From there you'll grow into hands-on exposure to our cybersecurity and GRC work - the compliance, assessments, and lifecycle management that keep our partners secure. Because we operate in the SMB space and run lean, you won't be siloed: you'll get to work on a lot of different things and learn fast.
Responsibilities - What You'll Do:
Build your foundation on the Help Desk:- Monitor the Service Desk for new tickets, triage them, and run the escalation process for issues that need a senior hand.- Support partners and internal users with workstation, account, connectivity, and Microsoft 365 issues.- Perform moves, adds, changes, and deletes in Active Directory and Microsoft 365.- Set up, deploy, and update configurations, utilities, and software for workstations.- Document procedures and resolutions in CNWR systems so the next person isn't starting from zero.
Grow into cybersecurity and GRC:- Assist with governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) work for our partners - including frameworks like CMMC - digging through policy, mapping controls, and helping clients get their standards up to par.- Help run and review security assessments using Nessus and other tooling, including Microsoft 365 and AWS reviews.- Support lifecycle management and remediation - flagging out-of-date or at-risk systems and helping bring them in line with CNWR standards.- Help gather evidence, write up findings, and track remediation through to closure.- Learn alongside the team on real partner environments - solid, real-world SMB security fundamentals you can build a career on.
Qualifications - What We're Looking For:
- Currently enrolled in a Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or related program (and enrolled for the duration of the internship).- Genuine curiosity and a love of figuring things out.- A basic understanding of computer networking and Windows.- Comfortable with Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365.- Strong communication and a partner-first attitude - you can explain tech to non-technical people without making them feel small.- Able to be onsite in the Toledo area as needed.
Bonus Points- A home lab, personal projects, or prior IT/security internship experience.- Scripting (Python, PowerShell) or general programming exposure.- Linux administration, virtualization, or containerization experience.- Exposure to security tooling (e.g., Nessus) or basic pentesting on your own applications/servers.- Certifications in progress (CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+) or familiarity with compliance frameworks (CMMC, NIST).
How We Measure Success:

• As a technology company, we're very data driven. Your work on the help desk will be measured on:
  • Primary (Direct Ownership)
    
    • % First Touch Ticket Resolution
    • % Tickets w/ KB Used
    • Total Tickets Closed (Past 14 Days)
  • Secondary (Team-Contributed)
    • Customer Satisfaction (Current Quarter) - Target ≥ 95
    • Average SLA Adherence (TTR%) - Target ≥ 85%
    • Documents Created/Utilized
    • Utilized Time
    • Ticket Re-Opens
    • Other intangible metrics reviewed during 1-on-1s

How You'll Fit In:
This role only works if you line up with how we operate. Our core values aren't a poster in the break room, they're how we actually run the desk.

• Have a Firefighter Mentality
  Espousing a firefighter mentality is a key core value at CNWR. While nearly all companies have a rapid response team and SLAs for response, at CNWR we take responding to trouble seriously.
• Do What's Right
  Doing what is right is not always the quickest or easiest path in business. But here at CNWR, we've embraced the ideology of doing the right thing to protect a company, even when it's a complicated and challenging path. We always have the customer's best interest in mind.
• Be the Rising Tide
  Being the rising tide is one of CNWR's core values. We believe that when we work together to better ourselves and one another, everyone benefits. This extends beyond our company to how we treat our partners, vendors, and competition.
• Be Human
  Being human is a simple concept. As humans, we crave social interaction and belonging - we're naturally social creatures. We believe that if you treat people well and remember they're human, things will be better.
• Own the Problem. Drive the Solution - Together
  We take full ownership of problems, use documented processes and available resources first, and escalate appropriately so the best solution is delivered by the team.
• Always Seek Improvement
  We believe in continuous improvement. We learn from our mistakes in a blameless fashion.

The Fine Print
The above description is intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed by the associated role. This description is not intended to be a list of all responsibilities and duties of the role.
By the nature of this position, certain onsite visits will be required when installing and managing workstations. However, this position is not a required full-time inhouse employee. Requirements of the workplace are designated in the company handbook and are subject to revision upon manager approval for unique cases.
Internship Details
- Term: Fall 2026 through Spring 2027 (two semesters), scheduled around your classes.- Hours: Part-time, flexible around your class schedule - roughly 15-25 hours per week.- Location: Onsite in Toledo, OH as needed, with some remote work.- Eligibility: Must be a currently enrolled student for the duration of the internship.