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Cyber Security Career Starter Pathway

Develop your skills and capability to start your career in Cyber Security.

Why choose the Cyber Security Career Starter Pathway?

The industry

The UK's growing and cutting edge cyber security sector will be boosted by millions in new investment and a roadmap for growth, as part of the Plan for Change (GOV.UK, 2025). There will still be an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cyber security jobs worldwide by the end of this year (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2024).

Opportunities

The mean salary for cyber security professionals in the UK is £56,030 (Adzuna Intelligence, 2025), which is 46.3% more than the overall national mean salary.

Job insights

Here are some potential job roles you could pursue after completing this pathway:

IT Support Specialist

Installs and configures computer hardware, software, systems, networks, printers, and scanners.  Also monitors and maintains computer systems and networks. 

Network Administrator

Manages and maintains computer networks, ensuring they operate efficiently and securely. Responsible for the infrastructure that connects computers, including hardware like routers and switches, as well as software and user access.

Security Administrator

Maintains the security of an organisation's IT systems. Installs, configures, and troubleshoots security solutions, as well as developing and implementing security policies and procedures. Also monitors network activity, manages access controls, and responds to security incidents. 

Accreditors

We make sure we provide our students with the most relevant, industry standard content, which is why this course is made up of material accredited by the following education leaders.

CompTIA

The leading global IT trade association, CompTIA, gives the industry a unified voice and real leadership in the IT community. As a non-profit organisation, CompTIA offers a unique range of training courses that validate your IT skills without restricting you to individual product suites.

AWS

Amazon Web Services is a subsidiary of Amazon providing on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs to individuals, companies, and governments, on a metered pay-as-you-go basis.

IT Foundations course overview

Our IT Foundations course has been created to provide you with a holistic introduction to the foundations of Information Technology (IT), focusing on the essential knowledge and skills needed to understand, operate, and troubleshoot computer systems.

You'll cover hardware, operating systems, networking, software, and IT support practices while also learning the foundations of cybersecurity in today’s digital world.

Study time: 30 guided learning hours

Modules breakdown

What you'll learn

CompTIA Network+ course overview

The CompTIA Network+ certification is a highly regarded entry-level certification that opens doors to various network administration and IT roles. Gain practical skills and become proficient in working with a wide range of hardware, software, and networks.

The demand for CompTIA Network+ professionals continues to grow, offering you abundant opportunities to explore and excel in the IT world.

Study time: 80 guided learning hours

Modules breakdown

What you'll learn

CompTIA Network+ Examination

CompTIA Network+

1 x 90 minute exam, 90 questions.

CompTIA Security+ course overview

Elevate your Cyber Security career with the CompTIA Security+ certification. Recognised globally and highly sought after by employers, this course delves into network security, compliance, threats, access control, and more. 

Ideal for both beginners and experienced professionals, it's a solid foundation for advanced certifications like CISSP. With hands-on learning and expert instruction, you will gain the skills and knowledge to safeguard organisations from ever-evolving cyber threats. Take charge of your future and make a meaningful impact in the digital world with CompTIA Security+ by your side. 

Study time: 80 guided learning hours

Modules breakdown

What you'll learn

CompTIA Security+ Examination

CompTIA Security+

1 x 90 minute exam (included), 90 multiple choice and performance-based questions.

Future proof your career with AI certification:

AWS Certified AI Practitioner, is a course designed to provide a strong foundation in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI within the AWS Cloud ecosystem and is provided as standard with our tech career pathways*.

This certification validates your ability to understand AI concepts, identify practical business use cases, and leverage AWS services to build smarter, more efficient solutions without requiring a programming background.

By earning the AIF-C01 certification, you position yourself as a forward-thinking professional who can bridge the gap between technical teams and business strategy. You’ll gain the language, tools, and frameworks needed to guide AI initiatives, communicate with stakeholders, and ensure projects deliver measurable impact.

Course modules:

  • AWS Certified AI Practitioner Modules Breakdown:
  • Basic AI Concepts and Terminologies
  • Practical Use Cases for AI
  • The ML Development Lifecycle
  • ML Operations (MLOps)
  • Basic Concepts of Generative AI
  • Capabilities and Limitations of Generative AI
  • Building Generative AI Applications with AWS
  • Design Factors for Applications Using Foundation Models
  • Effective Prompt Engineering Techniques
  • Training, Fine-Tuning, and Evaluating Foundation Models

Study time: 10 learning hours

Exam: 1 x 90 minute exam, 65 multiple choice and multiple response questions

*content is made available once your first core pathway certification has been passed

Boost your employability with our career booster courses:

Your pathway also includes our communications skills and critical thinking course. While technical skills are important, communication and critical thinking skills are often the distinguishing factor that sets successful businesses and professionals apart. They enable individuals to effectively navigate the complexities of the business world, build strong relationships, and drive innovation and growth.

  • Communication essentials: This part of the course helps you build the skills to connect, influence, and lead with confidence. You'll cover topics such as AI-powered communication tools, intentional messaging, nonverbal techniques, technical communication strategies, and the power of effective writing to help you to convey ideas with clarity and impact in any professional setting.
    Critical thinking: Strengthen your ability to analyse, evaluate, and lead with clarity. This course covers challenging assumptions, investigating arguments, drawing sound conclusions, leveraging analogical thinking, overcoming cognitive biases, and applying critical thinking to leadership giving you the tools to make smarter decisions and guide teams with confidence.

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