How to Get Into Cyber Security (And How This Cyber Security Job Programme Can Help)
Great news: there are more ways to get into cyber security than there are ways to get into the Vatican!
In the UK, the percentage of people recruited from a previous role in cyber security amounted to 54%, whilst those recruited from a non-cyber security role amounted to 27%. These are findings from the 2022 Cyber Security UK skills report.
Furthermore, and perhaps most relevant to people looking to get into a Cyber Security career from a different industry, many employers are opting to transition employees (who may lack Cyber-specific skills) into these roles to fill the ever-increasing skills gap.
Cyber Security jobs are some of the most in-demand technology jobs in the UK. Yet, many of them need to be fulfilled, with employers pointing to a need for more technical skills and specialist knowledge as a persistent challenge.
Continue reading to understand the latest job requirements to land a Cyber Security job. You will also understand the traditional approach (we don’t recommend this!) to securing a role and learn of a more people-focused way (that we do recommend!) of getting qualified in Cyber Security – and landing a job.
What Is Cyber Security and What Is the Importance of Cyber Security?
Is data the most important asset any modern business can harness to remain competitive?
We believe so!
For businesses, data represents a new and modern way to create value for customers and stakeholders at scale; this makes the safekeeping and protection of company data from hacks critically important.
Cyber Security is the professional field concerned with strengthening companies against the many threats of cyber-attacks by securing networks, resources, and systems.
As stated above, data is a valuable business asset companies must protect.
Cyber Security plays an essential role in identifying risks and threats to organisations’ data and developing measures to strengthen a company’s Cyber Security preparedness, to handle threats that may arise.
Cyber threats are real! Linkedin suffered a data breach that saw over 700 million (about 90% of their user base) users’ data dumped on the dark web!
Similarly, Marriot International, which owns over 6,500 hotel chains globally, had their customer’s data hacked!
This included sensitive information like passport numbers, arrival and departure information, reservation dates, phone numbers, email addresses, and passport numbers.
Cyber threats exist in every industry, hence the importance placed on effective cyber security measures.
What Are Some Requirements to Land a Cyber Security Job?
Cyber Security is one of the more demanding technology fields to pursue a career. To land a job requires a greater focus on education, hard skills, soft skills, and certifications which we discuss in detail below.
Education Requirements
Both formal and informal education routes exist for a career in the Cyber Security industry. And both can land you a job!
Entry-level roles do not require a Bachelor’s Degree and, instead, require some certifications coupled with work experience. Whereas positions requiring more than five years of experience, a Chief Information Security Officer, for example – may require a degree in Cyber Security.
Important: Formal education factors into some Cyber Security jobs, making a university degree valuable.
However, practical skills will always be favoured (not everyone has the money for university education), and this is where boot camps and online learning for Cyber Security careers come in.
Certifications
Perhaps the most essential and accessible option to securing a role in Cyber Security is getting certified through relevant certifications.
In the UK job market, Cyber Security certifications are looked on favourably by employers because they help to validate your skills and experience & help employers understand your skills.
Certifications to consider for entry-level Cyber Security jobs include:
CompTIA A+ is an entry-level qualification in the IT industry.
This qualification is ideal for people looking to enter the IT industry and those already working in it– who want to validate their skills and experience through an entry-level qualification.
CompTIA Network+ prepares you for a career in IT infrastructure. This qualification validates your skills in troubleshooting, configuring, and managing networks.
CompTIA Security+ is an internationally recognised qualification that teaches core skills to perform essential security functions and prepares you for an IT security career.
CompTIA CySA+ is an intermediate cyber security qualification ideal for working professionals with several years of experience in cyber security.
This qualification emphasises software and application security, automation, threat hunting, and IT regulatory compliance, which affects the daily work of security analysts.
We recommend you obtain these qualifications as part of our Cyber Security Career Programme, which you will get, among other things:
- A tutor to support your progress during your courses.
- A personalised study plan to help make studying easier.
- Revision questions and quizzes.
- Exam revision support.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are critical for Cyber Security jobs!
The nature of the job, dealing with companies’ sensitive information and the real threats of potential breaches and attacks, means building these skills is vital to landing a job in Cyber Security.
- Information Systems
- Linux
- Project Management
- Intrusion detection
- Risk assessment
- Python
- Java
- Scripting
- Incident response
Soft Skills
A-not-to-be overlooked job requirement for Cyber Security jobs is Soft Skills. While Hard Skills will land you the job, Soft Skills will help you thrive and grow in your career!
Soft Skills include critical thinking, communication, presentation, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving.
How to Get Into Cyber Security – The Traditional Approach
Get a College Education
This path can get expensive, really fast! And can run into tens of thousands of pounds. Additionally, this is before you factor in extra costs you may incur.
Also, some university curricula require assistance keeping up to date with the changes in the industry, including the latest tools and approaches used in modern cyber security.
Get an Internship
Internships are a common way to gain experience. However, you may find the competition tough and risk not standing out, thus limiting your chances of securing a job. Not all internships are equal; some are designed with something other than your learning and career trajectory in mind – this can stunt a fledgling career before it takes off.
Build a Portfolio
Portfolios in Cyber Security showcase your skills and tenacity to potential employers by working on open source projects, demonstrating a determination and desire to build skills.
Open-source platforms and hackathons are opportunities to build a portfolio of work to showcase to employers, demonstrating your skills and enthusiasm for learning.
A caveat with portfolios: they are unguided, with you having to figure things out on your own as you go, and may result in you gaining skills employers aren’t prioritising.
Apply for Positions
Securing a tech role is challenging! You will likely compete with more talented and skilled people for jobs. This approach can lead to frustration with the job search.
An ideal scenario is getting placed into a role after completing your qualifications. But more on that option below.
How to Get Into Cyber Security – The ITonlinelearning Cyber Security Career Programme)
What Is the Cyber Security Career Programme?
Think of the ITonlinelearning placement programme in Cyber Security as a “hold you by the hand” training and support programme where we firstly – help you become qualified in core CompTIA qualifications, then provide you with recruitment support to find your first entry-level role in IT (this is guaranteed or your money back)!
There’s more – during your training with us, we’ll assign you a specialist mentor and tutor to help guide and provide support so you complete – and pass your exams.
This placement programme focuses on helping you get qualified and get placed into the industry you want to work in as quickly as possible!
This is what makes it different! It is why previous students (now working professionals) recommend it so much.
How This Career Programme Is Structured
Becoming a Cyber Security professional begins with getting CompTIA certified with globally recognised certifications. Your journey will start with the following:
- Getting CompTIA A+ Certified
You must complete your CompTIA A+ (an entry-level IT qualification that validates your skills) course and pass the exams to access the following essential qualification.
2. Getting CompTIA Network+ Certified
This course will help you acquire security-specific skills in Network Security, Network Operations, Network Fundamentals, and Network Troubleshooting. We will help you pass your Network+ exams and gain access to the CompTIA Security+ course.
3. Recruitment support to place you in an entry-level IT role
Part of what sets this cyber security placement programme apart is our guarantee to find you a position upon passing your exams. Roles we will place you in include IT Technician, IT Support, or IT Help Desk.
4. Getting CompTIA Security+ Certified
This globally recognised qualification teaches the skills and knowledge to perform core security functions. You will gain access to the CompTIA CySA+ course (the final course) after passing your exams.
5. Getting CompTIA CySA+ Certified
The final course in the Cyber Security job programme will see you develop specialist skills to apply behavioural analytics to networks and devices to prevent, detect, and combat Cyber Security threats through continuous security monitoring.
The Cyber Security Career Programme is an all-encompassing training, and career development solution specifically focused on getting you job- and career-ready. We do this through specialist support with the following:
- A Job/Money-back guarantee.
- Minimum of 5 official CompTIA exams.
- Gain practical experience with live equipment.
- Support from a team of experts.
- Recruitment support & CV review.
- Personalised study plan upon request.
- Official accredited CompTIA training.
- 2-year access to expert online courses.
- Flexible Finance.
What You Should Know About the UK Cyber Security Job Market Right Now
Insights from the Cyber Security skills in the UK labour market 2022 report reveal that:
Demand for Cyber Security professionals continues to increase.
In short, it’s a candidate-driven market where skilled professionals have their share of job offers. In the UK, as in other countries, there are more vacancies than there are candidates to fill them.
The Cyber Security sector is starting to recruit entry-level staff actively.
Firms are beginning to recruit via graduate schemes. However, this was a more common practice among larger firms. Research reveals that more companies are taking this route to develop Cyber Security talent.
Cyber Security firms are evolving their recruitment approaches.
Research from 2019 reveals a reduced use of recruitment agencies by employers and taking a more direct approach (often Linkedin) to recruiting.
Complementary skills among job candidates are a concern to cyber security firms.
One way to think of complementary skills is as a group of independent skills that create more value when used together.
Employers are worried that 4 in 10 employees lack complementary skills to make them even more effective in their roles, including communication, leadership, management, sales, and marketing skills.
Become a Cyber Security Professional!
With ITonlinelearning’s Cyber Security Career Programme, NOW YOU CAN!
We are the only career programme that helps you gain the qualifications for the career you want AND also finds you an entry-level job in the sector you desire. Guaranteed or your money back!
We are a CompTIA-authorised gold partner, allowing us to offer you only accredited courses and study materials when you study with us.
Our career programmes are 100% quality content – recognised and endorsed globally by practising professionals.
Interested but require financial assistance? Ask us about the option to spread your payments affordably – at a 0% interest rate – over a 6 to 12-month period with Omni Finance.
