Published 10/01/2025
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Central Virginia Node (CVN) continues its 2025 Intern Impact Series, highlighting students whose summer internships are shaping the future of cybersecurity and AI across Virginia. Each article features CVN-sponsored interns, the organizations they worked with, and the impact they made in the field.
This story features Garrett Foltyn at DeepRunAI Labs LLC and Zonarah “Zoni” Bajwa at Hive Systems, two interns contributing to innovative solutions in AI, web development, and cybersecurity.
DeepRunAI Labs: Harnessing AI to Strengthen Cybersecurity
Garrett Foltyn, a senior Computer Science major at VCU, joined DeepRunAI Labs LLC to work on web development and integrating AI and virtual machines into applications that assist cybersecurity professionals in defending against threats.
Garrett described his experience:
“I am working on web development and integration of AI and virtual machines into web applications. It’s going great. Everyone is really nice and I’m constantly learning new things.”
Justin Samson, Founder of DeepRun / AI Lab, shared:
“Everybody probably already knows how fast the field of AI is evolving and how important cybersecurity is. With AI, there are going to be a lot of bad actors. To counter that, we have to write software and AI that will help cybersecurity experts defend against those threats.”
During his internship, Garrett developed AI-enhanced tools to automate threat analysis and vulnerability management, giving the team a practical way to handle complex security challenges efficiently.
Hive Systems: Aligning Technology with Business Needs
Zonarah “Zoni” Bajwa, a senior Information Systems major at VCU, joined Hive Systems, a company focused on delivering technology solutions that support critical business operations. She focused on ensuring technology investments genuinely support business fundamentals rather than just following buzzwords.
Zoni shared:
“During my internship, I’ve had the opportunity to sit in on team meetings and connect one-on-one with colleagues. These experiences have allowed me to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the company’s operations and the type of work they do. One area I’ve explored in more detail is Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. I’ve learned how it works, what companies must do to become verified, and also assisted with rebranding efforts by helping revise and reorganize documents to align with the company’s new branding guidelines. Overall, it’s been a rewarding experience that has strengthened both my technical knowledge and my understanding of the industry.”
Alex Nette, CEO & Co-Founder of Hive Systems, commented on Zoni’s contributions:
“Our goal at Hive Systems is we focus on the business first. Many companies blindly recommend buzzword technology, but if that technology isn’t supporting the fundamentals of the business, it’s a waste of time.”
Preparing the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals
Garrett and Zoni’s experiences demonstrate how internships bridge academic learning and professional practice. Their contributions strengthened their respective organizations’ technology and cybersecurity capabilities while preparing them for future careers.
This continues CVN’s mission of developing the next generation of cyber professionals in Virginia by connecting talent with meaningful, high-impact work.
Watch Their Stories
Learn more about Garrett and Zonarah’s summer internships in their own words:
