Cyber Security Analyst Level 4 - Apprenticeship
Overview
The apprenticeship is designed for learners with some existing IT knowledge, experience or qualifications. It is best suited to organisations who manage their own cyber security rather than outsourcing it to other departments or companies.
The apprenticeship can be used to upskill new or existing staff. Suitable roles include junior and senior roles in network security, information assurance, secure systems development and penetration testing. The Level 4 apprenticeship is for experienced staff or learners who have attained a previous Level 3 IT qualification, who wish to advance their skills and knowledge in cyber security.
Key information
Learners must be employed in a suitable role and working within cyber security.
To be eligible for apprenticeship funding, the apprentice must be employed for more than 16 hours per week and based in Wales.
The learners will be allocated a dedicated tutor/assessor, who will work closely with both the learners and employer to ensure the level and units selected are suited to their individual role and organisational priorities. The tutor/assessor will meet with the learners every 4-6 weeks to assess progress and set objectives for the next period.
The learners will be assigned project work set to their elected units, as well as be expected to gather evidence from their role to demonstrate application of their new skills. The learner may be expected to attend seminars or workshops in addition to work-based learning, which will focus on the knowledge element of the qualification and support in developing understanding, skills and experience in this area.
Mandatory units
- Health and safety in IT
- Professional practice in an IT context
- Principles of information governance and assurance
- Principles of information security testing
Optional units
- Managing software development
- Threat analysis
- IT system management
- IT system security
- Data modelling
- Systems architecture
- Creating an object oriented computer program
- Testing the security of information systems
- Investigating information security incidents
- Carrying out information security risk assessments
- Principles of secure system development
To successfully complete the qualification, learners will undertake projects work-based tasks to meet the qualification criteria, relevant to their individual role and learning environment. They will acquire the knowledge, tools and techniques associated with each unit that they will then implement in their current work environment.
The work assigned and evidence gathered will be reviewed during the regular group and 1-2-1 meetings with tutors/assessors and used for assessment purposes. Gower College Swansea utilises Smart Assessor which is an online apprenticeship management tool enabling provider, learner and employer to effectively track learner progress.
The apprenticeship also includes Level 3 essential skills qualifications in communication and application of number, which upskills learners with A Level equivalents to English and Maths if they have not already achieved A Level grades A-C.