Johnny Meintel

Cybersecurity Analyst in Training

2 college degrees and a dozen certifications taught me how things can work.

A year in tech support has taught me how things can break.

To break into cybersecurity, I'm building a homelab that teaches me both.

Actively seeking entry-level cybersecurity opportunities.

homelab-status.sh
johnny@cybersec:~# ./homelab-status.sh
🛡️ SIEM01 (Splunk Enterprise) - MONITORING
DC01 (Domain Controller) - ONLINE
APP01 (Web Server + DB) - ONLINE
KALI (Attack Platform) - ARMED
MGR1 (Executive Target) - VULNERABLE

Cybersecurity Analyst Homelab

🔗
🏢
DC01
Domain Controller

Active Directory environment with deliberately misconfigured service accounts, weak password policies, and over-privileged SPNs for realistic attack scenarios.

Status: Online
Risk: High
🌐
🌐
APP01
Web/Database Server

IIS web server with MySQL backend featuring cleartext credentials in configuration files and vulnerable service accounts.

Status: Online
Risk: High
💼
💼
MGR1
Executive Workstation

High-value target with Domain Admin auto-logon, disabled security controls, and exposed RDP access for credential harvesting scenarios.

Status: Domain Admin
Risk: Critical
📊
📊
SIEM01
Splunk Enterprise

Centralized security monitoring with real-time log analysis, custom dashboards, and automated threat detection capabilities.

Status: Active
SIEM: Splunk
🐉
🐉
KALI
Attack Platform

Comprehensive penetration testing toolkit for red team operations, vulnerability assessment, and exploit development.

Status: Ready
OS: Kali Linux
💻
💻
Workstations
DEV1 + USER1

Developer and standard user workstations for lateral movement scenarios, privilege escalation, and realistic attack path simulation.

Count: 2 Systems
Status: Configuring

Lab Development Timeline

Technical Expertise

Technical Skills

  • Technical Troubleshooting Skilled
  • Communication & Soft Skills Skilled
  • Windows Administration Skilled
  • Network Security Skilled
  • PowerShell Automation Competent
  • Linux Command Line Competent
  • Cloud Computing Competent
  • Python Scripting Competent
  • Active Directory Administration Competent
  • SIEM Intermediate
  • Kali Linux / Tools Intermediate
  • Penetration Testing Beginner
  • Detection Engineering Beginner
  • BASH Scripting Beginner

Certifications & Learning

  • M.S. – Cybersecurity & Information Assurance Completed 2025
  • B.S. – Cloud Computing Completed 2025
  • CompTIA Security+ Certified
  • CompTIA CySA+ Certified
  • CompTIA PenTest+ Certified
  • CompTIA A+ Certified
  • CompTIA Network+ Certified
  • CompTIA Cloud+ Certified
  • CompTIA Project+ Certified
  • Google IT Support Professional Certified
  • Google Cybersecurity Professional Certified
  • LPI Linux Essentials Certified
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certified
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner Certified
  • ITIL v4 Foundation Certified

Let's Connect

Currently pursuing a SOC Analyst or Junior Cybersecurity Analyst role

⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️🅱️🅰️ // classic cheat codes still work...