Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist - Marlow

Madina

Cyber Security

Higher Level Apprenticeship

Describe your role and what it entails.

My role is a cyber security apprentice entails learning about the different parts of cyber security and how they are being used with Softcat. I primarily work within the SOC (security operations center) which consists of engineers, analysts and incident response. Within the SOC I assist the engineer with the daily health checks and reports but as an apprentice I also gain exposure to other teams such as cyber assessment, cyber assurance and internal cyber.

What have been your highlights?

So far, the highlight of my apprenticeship has been meeting the SLT during national apprenticeship week. This opportunity was an eye opener for me and gave me a chance to build a network with all members of the SLT. I can’t wait to see what other opportunities I’ll get to experience.

What have been your challenges?

For me the biggest challenge has been the imposter syndrome. Especially when you’re the only apprentice within the area it feels that everyone else knows what they are doing and I’m the anomaly. It’s okay not to know what you’re doing since you’re in the process of learning.

What have you learnt from your experience in the role?

I have learnt so much about the different areas of cyber, making me realize how vast cyber security is. On a more personal basis, I have also learnt that if you don’t ask, don’t expect. If there is something you want to do or are interested in, just ask. A majority of the time the people around you will help you get to the entry point.

What advice would you give to a student following in your footsteps?

Be confident in your character and the way you present yourself. Even if you don’t have the relevant experience or much knowledge about the area, you don’t need to worry since the reason for the apprenticeship is to gain the relevant experience and knowledge. You’re here to learn so if there is an area you’re interested in then make sure you make it known.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship?

I choose to do an apprenticeship because the focus of an apprenticeship is to learn on the job. This allows you to gain relevant experience and helps you to see how the things you are learning relate to real life situations. I like to see what I’ve learnt in relation to the real world since it deepens my understanding.

A day in the life of a…

Cyber security apprentices can vary from day to day because of the variety of teams within the cyber sector. However, the day starts with the team’s daily stand up. This is where the team come together to communicate what they are working on and bring up any important information. Other than this, your day to day varies depending on what you’re working on, how far along you are in the apprenticeship and what’s going on in your team.

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