How to Get into Cyber Security in the UK: Skills, Training and Pay

You don’t need a degree to get into cyber security in the UK: there’s no universal degree requirement for cyber analyst pathways. A practical route is to build IT and networking foundations, gain hands-on experience and choose beginner training or certifications that match your target role.

If you’re unsure where to start, that’s understandable. Cyber security includes a range of roles, and the right first step depends on your current skills and interests. A certification can give your learning structure, but it’s most useful alongside practical skills you can demonstrate.

This guide explains UK eligibility and entry routes, from apprenticeships to training and beginner certifications. You’ll also learn which skills to develop, how to build experience and what salaries may look like as you progress, helping you plan a realistic route into the sector.

Want to start a career in cyber security?

Build practical experience in legal, controlled environments, then document what you learn in a portfolio. TryHackMe offers guided cyber security labs, Wireshark helps you inspect network traffic, and GitHub can showcase project notes, scripts and learning write-ups. Practise only in authorised labs and systems.

The UK sector offers several directions. According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, 67,300 people worked directly in cyber security, an increase of 11% (6,600 jobs) on 2024 figures. The same department reports that 43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber attack or data security breach in the 12 months to January 2025. For charities, the figure was 30% over the same period.

These figures show why organisations need people with different strengths. A security operations centre (SOC) analyst monitors alerts and investigates suspicious activity. Penetration testers assess systems for weaknesses, while governance, risk and compliance (GRC) specialists help organisations manage security policies and risks. Other paths include incident response, digital forensics and cloud security. Choose a direction to focus your learning, while building shared foundations in networking, operating systems and security principles.

Use a 90-day plan to turn interest into evidence. During days 15-60, complete 2-3 hands-on labs and publish 1 blog post or GitHub project. For example, explain how you investigated a sample alert in a lab, the steps you took and what you learned. Avoid publishing personal information, credentials or material from an employer’s systems.

• TryHackMe: Practise guided security tasks in a learning environment.
• Wireshark: Examine packet captures to understand network conversations.
• GitHub: Organise project notes and demonstrate clear technical communication.

Career-change mistakes often come from trying to learn everything at once. Pick one target role, map its common skills, then build a small project that demonstrates them. Don’t rely on certificates alone or apply only to senior roles. During days 61-90, the suggested plan is to apply for 30 targeted jobs, contact 5 specialist recruiters and attend 2 meetups.

Webinars can help you compare roles before committing to a learning path. Look for sessions from the UK Cyber Security Council or the National Cyber Security Centre, and note the job titles, tools and entry-level tasks speakers discuss. After each session, take a practical step, such as adapting a lab project to practise a skill mentioned by a SOC analyst.

Use webinars and meetups to ask focused questions about day-to-day work, not just job titles. A SOC analyst might describe triaging alerts, while a GRC professional may explain how they communicate risk. Compare those tasks with your strengths, then refine your project portfolio and applications accordingly.

Degree and work eligibility requirements

A degree can help, but it isn’t a universal entry requirement for UK cyber analyst pathways. Employers recruit for different roles and assess relevant skills, experience and qualifications together. Without a degree, you can still build a route through apprenticeships, IT experience and role-focused training.

For a university degree in computer science or cyber security, applicants usually need 2 to 3 A levels or equivalent. Check each course’s entry criteria, because requirements vary by institution and qualification. UCAS course search can help you compare degree subjects and entry requirements. Consider whether you want the broader academic foundation of a degree or a more work-based route.

Apprenticeships offer another way to gain skills while working. Higher or degree apprenticeships usually require 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), plus A levels or equivalent. Use GOV.UK’s Find an apprenticeship service to explore vacancies and compare employer requirements. Read each listing carefully: the job duties, essential qualifications and application process can differ.

The Cyber Security Fast Stream has its own degree criteria. Applicants need, or must expect to obtain, a 2:2, a degree apprenticeship or a postgraduate degree in any subject. Existing civil servants can apply without a degree. This is a particular graduate route, not a general rule for all cyber security jobs.

There isn’t one security clearance level for every UK cyber security role: screening depends on the employer and the work involved. Cyber Security Fast Stream participants must secure SC clearance before starting, and some may undertake Developed Vetting during the scheme.

Before applying, compare your experience with the vacancy’s criteria. Helpdesk experience, for example, can demonstrate customer communication and troubleshooting, while a networking project can show technical foundations. Record specific examples of diagnosing faults, following procedures and explaining risks. This helps employers see how your background could transfer into security work.

• UCAS course search: Compare university subjects and published entry requirements.
• GOV.UK Find an apprenticeship: Search apprenticeship vacancies and review employer criteria.

If you want a structured learning route alongside your own experience, explore a Cyber Security Career Path. It can help organise your study around relevant knowledge and skills as you prepare for suitable opportunities.

Training and regulated qualifications as entry routes

Training and regulated qualifications are two common ways to begin a UK cyber security career. Apprenticeships combine a full-time job with learning, while part-time study can let you keep working as you upskill. Choose a route based on your current experience, preferred learning style and target roles.

Cyber security apprenticeships cover different levels and specialisms. The Cyber Security Technologist Higher Apprenticeship and Digital Forensic Technician Higher Apprenticeship are Level 4 routes. The Cyber Security Technical Professional Degree Apprenticeship is Level 6, whilst the Advanced Digital Forensic Professional Degree Apprenticeship is Level 7. Compare their job duties and qualification levels before applying.

A full-time postgraduate MSc Cyber Security course in the UK typically lasts one year. This route suits learners seeking intensive academic study, while part-time courses can fit around existing work. For a shorter, job-focused option, professional training can help build specific technical foundations. Match each programme to the skills named in vacancies, rather than choosing qualifications by title alone.

Entry-level roles can include SOC analyst, junior cyber security analyst and digital forensic technician. These positions may involve monitoring alerts, investigating suspicious activity or examining digital evidence. With practical experience, professionals may progress into mid-level security engineering or penetration testing. Senior roles can include security specialist, manager or architect, with greater responsibility for technical direction, risk or team leadership.

Employers look for a mix of technical understanding and clear communication. Networking knowledge is a key foundation for applying security concepts in practice. Penetration testing and red-team work can call for familiarity with the OWASP Top 10 web application vulnerabilities. Governance, risk and compliance roles benefit from knowledge of ISO27001, NIST and GDPR. Job adverts show which combination matters for each vacancy.

Use practical tools to turn study into demonstrable skills. Wireshark helps you inspect network traffic and understand how devices communicate. A virtual machine lets you practise system configuration in an isolated environment. GitHub can organise project notes and code, making your learning easier to review. Briefly record each exercise: the task, your approach, the outcome and what you’d improve.

• CompTIA CySA+: CompTIA describes this qualification as demonstrating the ability to detect, analyse and stop threats in real time.
• Hands-on labs: Practise investigating alerts or reviewing a network capture, then document your findings.
• Vacancy analysis: Compare entry-level job adverts and build a study plan around repeated skills and qualifications.

Build towards a role, not just a certificate. A lab investigation, clear write-up and relevant qualification together give employers concrete evidence of your learning.

UK cyber security salaries

Pay depends on the role, experience, employer and level of responsibility. UK salary figures are useful guides, not a single scale: a junior SOC analyst and an experienced security architect have different work and skill requirements. Compare vacancies with the same job title and seniority before judging what a career move could mean for you.

The differences reflect role definitions, experience and the salary data being compared.

Pay can rise with specialist responsibility. These figures show why job title and seniority matter as much as the sector.

Related IT roles can provide another comparison. The National Careers Service gives IT security co-ordinator salaries of £35,000 starter to £60,000 experienced. It lists cyber intelligence officers at £25,000 starter to £50,000 experienced, and forensic computer analysts at £30,000 starter to £62,000 experienced.

A public-sector route has a distinct progression. Treat this as a route-specific figure, not a guaranteed starting salary for every cyber security graduate or apprentice.

Use the National Careers Service salary profiles for occupational context, then review current vacancies for duties and seniority. A spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel can help you record job title, location, required experience and stated salary range. Compare like with like, noting whether an advert describes a junior, mid-level or senior post.

Build your salary expectations around evidence of capability, not certificates alone. Practical experience, specialist knowledge and the scope of responsibility all shape progression. For example, someone targeting penetration testing should compare entry-level testing roles with senior team-lead vacancies, rather than treating their salary ranges as interchangeable.

Beginner cyber security certifications

A useful first certification gives your study structure and helps demonstrate relevant knowledge. Match its subject to your target role, then pair exam preparation with practical exercises. A recognised credential can support a clear career plan; collecting certificates without applying the skills can make your next step less focused.

CompTIA Security+ is a beginner option to consider for IT security. CompTIA describes Security+ as validating core skills for a career in IT security and cybersecurity. Review its exam objectives, identify unfamiliar topics and plan your study around those gaps. Use practice questions to find weak areas, then revisit the underlying concepts instead of memorising answers.

For someone new to IT, CompTIA A+ can provide a starting point in computer support concepts. CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA focus on networking knowledge, a useful foundation for understanding how devices and systems connect. If cloud interests you, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Training offers a way to study cloud concepts. Choose a direction based on the roles you want to pursue.

Certification names aren’t interchangeable. A networking qualification won’t by itself demonstrate practical incident investigation, and a security credential doesn’t replace experience with operating systems or networks. Read the syllabus before committing your study time. Compare it with entry-level job adverts, then choose the certification whose topics most closely match recurring role requirements.

• CompTIA A+: Consider it when you need a grounding in IT support concepts.
• CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA: Focus study on networking fundamentals and connectivity.
• CompTIA Security+: Use its core security coverage to structure early security learning.
• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner: Choose this direction if cloud concepts align with your target roles.

Turn study into evidence. Use CompTIA exam objectives as a topic checklist, Anki to review key terms, and VirtualBox to practise system setup in a controlled virtual environment. Keep brief notes on what you configured, what went wrong and how you resolved it. These can support interview answers and help you explain what you learned beyond the exam result.

Some credentials are designed for people with substantial experience. For example, CISSP requires five years of cyber security work experience before a candidate can sit the exam. That makes it a later-career milestone, not a sensible first certification for most beginners. Build foundational knowledge and work experience before considering advanced credentials.

Choose a credential, set a weekly study routine and apply each topic in a lab or project. If you want guided preparation for a recognised beginner qualification, explore CompTIA Security+ Certification Training and build your next step around core security skills.

Square Skills: Network Engineer Career Path

Square Skills offers structured routes to build the technical foundations for a move into cyber security. The Network Engineer Career Path develops networking knowledge, while the IT Helpdesk Career Path can help you build core IT support skills. Both offer starting points if you’re still developing hands-on experience.

If you’re ready to focus directly on security, Square Skills’ Cyber Security Career Path aligns your learning with that goal. CompTIA A+ Certification Training can also support beginners strengthening their IT fundamentals before progressing. Choose the route that best matches your current experience and target roles.

Visit squareskills.com to explore the training options and decide which path fits your next career step.

Take your next step with confidence

Your first cyber security role doesn’t need to define your whole career. Treat it as a starting point: build a strong technical base, learn what work suits you, then adjust your direction as your interests develop. Getting into cyber security in the UK is less about finding one perfect route and more about choosing a practical next move.

Square Skills offers the Network Engineer Career Path, IT Helpdesk Career Path and Cyber Security Career Path. Each can support a different starting point, whether you’re strengthening IT foundations or focusing directly on security. Choose the path that best fits your current skills and the work you want to pursue.

When you’re ready to plan your training, contact Square Skills about cyber security training. A considered first step can turn a career change into a clear, achievable direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What entry-level cybersecurity jobs are available in the UK?

Common starting roles include SOC analyst, junior security analyst, IT support technician and junior digital forensic technician. A SOC analyst may triage alerts, while an IT support technician resolves access and device issues that affect security. Search job adverts for terms such as “junior”, “trainee” and “associate”. Compare the duties with your practical projects, then tailor your CV to show relevant troubleshooting, documentation and communication skills.

Can you get into cybersecurity in the UK without a degree?

Yes. A degree isn’t a universal requirement for UK cyber analyst pathways, although some graduate schemes and employers set their own criteria. Without one, show evidence through relevant IT work, practical projects, apprenticeships or role-focused qualifications. For example, document how you investigated a simulated security alert and explain your reasoning. Match that evidence to each vacancy’s essential criteria, rather than assuming every employer has the same requirements.

Which UK cybersecurity certifications are best for beginners, and how much do they cost?

CompTIA Security+ is a relevant beginner security certification; CompTIA A+ or Network+ can help build earlier IT foundations. Certification costs vary by exam, training format and whether an exam entry is included, so compare those components before choosing. Training and exam entry may be priced separately. Focus on one credential tied to your target role, and check what the course includes before budgeting for preparation and assessment.

What are the best UK cybersecurity courses, apprenticeships and bootcamps?

The best route depends on how you need to learn. An apprenticeship combines paid work with structured learning, while a course can focus on particular technical subjects. A bootcamp offers concentrated study, so assess its practical work and relevance to your target roles. Square Skills’ Cyber Security Career Path is an online training option; compare its learning content with your experience and career aims.

What is the average salary for entry-level cybersecurity jobs in the UK?

Treat this as a guide, because salaries vary by role, employer, experience and responsibilities. For a useful comparison, separate SOC analyst vacancies from junior penetration testing or security engineering roles. Record the salary range alongside each advert’s required skills, then compare roles at similar seniority rather than relying on one headline figure.

What are the main routes into UK cybersecurity careers, and how do they compare?

The main routes are apprenticeships, university study, professional training and moving across from IT support or networking. Apprenticeships combine employment and learning; degrees provide academic study; training can target specific skills while you continue working. Moving from IT support can build on existing troubleshooting experience. Compare routes by time commitment, practical experience and alignment with your intended role, then choose the one that addresses your biggest skills gap.