Cyber security is the most in-demand IT discipline in the UK. Protect organisations from hackers, ransomware and data breaches — and earn a premium salary doing it.
Cyber security analysts monitor, detect and respond to threats targeting an organisation’s systems, networks and data.
Watch SIEM dashboards for unusual activity, investigate alerts and triage incidents in real time.
Run penetration tests and vulnerability scans to find weaknesses before attackers do.
Write security policies, run staff training and ensure compliance with GDPR, ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials.
Lead the response when a breach occurs — contain it, investigate root cause and prevent recurrence.
This route takes most students 6–12 months part-time. No prior IT experience required to start.
The global entry-level cyber security cert. Covers threats, cryptography, identity management and network security. Recognised by GCHQ, NHS and FTSE 100 employers across the UK.
Learn to think like an attacker. CEH covers 20 hacking domains including social engineering, malware analysis and web app attacks. Opens red team and penetration testing roles at £55k–£75k.
Adds network-level threat detection using Cisco tools. Required for SOC Analyst roles at MSSPs and government bodies.
Cyber security commands a premium across every industry — and salaries are rising faster than any other IT discipline.
| Level | Role | Typical UK salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Junior SOC Analyst / Security Analyst | £28k – £38k |
| Mid | Cyber Security Analyst / SOC Analyst L2 | £40k – £55k |
| Senior | Senior Security Analyst / Pen Tester | £55k – £75k |
| Lead | Security Architect / CISO | £75k – £120k+ |
Start with CompTIA Security+ — the cert every cyber employer recognises. Pay monthly from £49.
Enrol in CompTIA Security+ →