What the Job Looks Like

Cybersecurity analysts protect networks and systems from threats. A typical day might include reviewing security alerts on monitoring software, investigating any suspicious activity, applying security updates, and helping staff stay aware of phishing emails. The work is split between technical tasks like setting up firewalls or running tests, and communication tasks like writing reports or running training sessions.

The field is one of the fastest growing in UK IT, partly because almost every company now needs someone who understands security. There is a real shortage of qualified people, which is good news for anyone starting out.

Qualifications You Will Need

• Entry level: A Level 3 BTEC in IT, or A-Levels in subjects like Computer Science or Maths.
• Certifications: CompTIA Security+ is the most common starting certification. Many people then move on to CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) or CISSP later in their career.
• Degree route: A BSc in Cybersecurity, Computer Science or Digital Forensics will be enough to apply for graduate schemes.
• Apprenticeship route: Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist apprenticeships are widely available and often paid for by employers.

Companies Hiring

The Web Hub partners with the following companies who are actively hiring trainees in cybersecurity: