How do I retrain in cyber security?

[CyberSecurityRoundabout]

I'm going around in bloody circles. Will someone put an end to my misery? 😆

I have a foundation degree in computer science but no actual work history other than I was Cisco qualified. But it's out of date now.

I deeply regret not sticking with cyber security and its time I get back into it. I'm in my 30s.

I live in a rural part of the UK so just looking at UCAS and choosing a course isn't helpful (was looking at doing a Top Up degree!) And Open University aren't doing their Top Up degree until next September 2023. I missed the boat.

I'm willing to invest time and money into retraining and was wondering if there was another industry wide recognised course I could do?

Yesterday I retook an old CCNA practise test for a laugh and passed. So I'm not over the hill YET!

But I appreciate it'll be hardwork but it's my long term goal.

Anyway, any thoughts? Remember I'm rural af (but looking to move closer to cities in the next 3 years! Can't afford it right now!)

I will do a distant learning Top Up degree to enable me to study a MSc.

But just looking for something else in the meantime? 😊

Degrees only half the story for cyber security. Certification like SSCP and CISSP are often required.

Cisco do a Cyber Ops certificate- check future learn microcredentials site.

Also get some basic cloud certification-azure az900 ( I think) and AWS cloud practitioner. All online free learning.

Microsoft run various online demo's and have an azure security certification as well.

Also check out cyber jobs you would like and see what they are asking for.

I’ve just had a wee look on indeed and tbh I wouldn’t hold back on applying. You already have major credentials.

I speak as someone with a soft eng degree living in the arse end of nowhere. I looked briefly at moving into cyber security but decided I couldn’t be arsed learning new protocols it wasn’t for me.

I love Azure!! Yes I'll crack on and do that.

The future learn person I spoke to said the cisco courses were postgraduate only. I'll just double check that on their website.

Thanks!!

Ahhh this made me laugh! Arse end of nowhere is exactly right!!

I can also code but I don't gel well with it. In fact I did have a software development role after my foundation degree and I was the only woman there and the men were too scared to talk to me! 😆

The office was eerily quiet and awkward.

I did them and honestly you don't need to be a post grad. They ask you to write some assignments as well as doing the cisco course.

“The office was eerily quiet and awkward.”

literally describes my career. 😂

I agree with the farting fish re certs. I work in defensive security and typically the first qualifications are AZ-900 and AZ-500 as well as AWS security specialist then CISSP. They’re quite general exams especially the AZ-900. A Cloud guru license costs around £30 a month I think and has lots of good training for certs inc practice exams so that may be helpful. Also if you have LinkedIn it’s worth following people in security as they often share courses/ training etc

Amazing! Thank you so much @user1471464395 @thefartingfish

I better get cracking!

Honestly, I'm worried about my brain. I found the Open University a nightmare to navigate around.

Have you looked at apprenticeships?

I have but there's nothing within 150 miles @SudocremOnEverything . It would be perfect for me as well

@user1471464395 @thefartingfish do you know if I can have a personal Azure account or do I need it linked with an actual business?

You can have your own account

You might find there are lots of remote working companies that offer them. It’s maybe not ideal as an apprenticeship but it is still possible.

www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-skills-bootcamp free bootcamps, I did mine online. Cyber security is one of them.

The security services have a paid 11 week internship in London next year. would that interest you.

fluffy Sounds good! Did you find work afterwards?

happyhamsters I dont think I could be away from my children for 11 weeks. We're 6 hours away from London at the moment 😢 my rural location is a huge setback. I hate it.... I can't wait until we move away

Can't stop thinking about all the opportunities that I've missed due to where I live.

But it has given my children a great start.

I can't help but feel selfishly regrettable that we live here. :(

Here is the site of the Microsoft security online demos/trainings. Cover a lot of useful topics & there is an exam you can take as well.

www.microsoft.com/en-us/trainingdays/security

This is very good advice. Once you are certified you may need to start at entry level, but career progression is swift and many roles are fully remote now, so living rurally shouldn’t be an issue as long as you have good internet speed.

I wouldn’t worry too much about location. I’m based in the North East and the rest of my team are spread out across different parts of the world. It might be worth looking at graduate schemes too. The company I work for take a few for cybersecurity each year and they’re often remote workers

Whereabouts are you? We are rural south west and there’s a desperate need for cyber security professionals here.

I've just started my Azure training. And I'll go from there. Thanks everyone so much

@Anunusualfamily I PM'ed you

Thanks everrrryone. No doubt I'll be back with more ridiculous questions.

I'm very nervous 😆

Have you actually applied for any jobs?

I had a right ball ache of a time trying to recruit a cyber security analyst recently. Needed someone who had a basic understanding of the ISO27001/SOC2/NIST frameworks, enough understanding of cybersecurity domains and best practice standards such as OWASP/NSCS to be able to refer to them and embed the requirements into policies and procedures.

There is a massive shortage of people with technical know how to be able to discuss authentication controls or cryptographic requirements with the tech teams, while also being able to identify risks, build relationships with people in all roles so that they can determine training requirements or identify whether security elements need to be embedded into a new project that's being implemented.

Their party Attestations and Information Security Management Systems are becoming more important because supplier due diligence is becoming a higher priority for clients. Gone are the days when they'd say 'so you do stuff securely right?' Now every client wants a copy of your ISO certificate and for you to fill in a 200 question security and data privacy questionnaire.

Yeah I've applied for some via LinkedIn.

I usually get a rejection email pretty swiftly so I know I'm not what they're looking for. Yet!

I've also spoken to the local college who were horrible and unwelcoming citing my age and I also asked the NHS and the local Council at their recruitment fairs about apprenticeships and grad schemes

NHS response was: we don't really do them here (despite having a banner saying they do!)

And the Council said they aren't recruiting for cyber security at the moment.

Sigh.

There's also a biggish company near here who were recruiting for a Junior position and they said "sorry we need someone with actual work experience" 😂 I felt like they were telling me off for daring to apply.

(ISC)2 are giving away 1,000,000 free courses and exams for a cyber security entry level qualification, they are the same membership body that does the CISSP so well known and respected.

https://cloud.connect.isc2.org/100K-inthe-UK?utmsource=homepage&utmmmedium=banner&utmcampaign=100kinUKKBanner&utmid=100kinUK&utmm_term=entry-level%2C+cybersecurity