Recruitment from abroad. 202 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, United States, Italy, ranking it 73rd of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
71%hold a degree
17%women
Age of cyber security professionals
Age profile of cyber security professionals
n/p
34%!
25%
22%!
12%!
n/p
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
Not published
25–34
34% (small sample)
35–44
25%
45–54
22% (small sample)
55–64
12% (small sample)
65+
Not published
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by cyber security professionals
Degree or equivalent71%
Higher education below degree!6.8%
A levels or equivalent12%
GCSEs or equivalent!7%
Other qualifications!2.9%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
71%
Higher education below degree
6.8% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
12%
GCSEs or equivalent
7% (small sample)
Other qualifications
2.9% (small sample)
No qualifications
Not published
Main employers: computer consultancy activities (20%), general public administration activities (6.8%), security systems service activities (6.7%), computer programming activities (4.6%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
71%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
7
from level 3, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
18 months to 4 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds
Routes in
IT security co-ordinator
You can get into this job through:
University
You can study for a foundation degree, degree or postgraduate course in:
computer science
cyber security
software engineering
maths
business information systems
Courses with industry placements or summer internships can help you to develop your skills and industry contacts.
Your university careers service can help you find work experience, internship and placement opportunities.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
College
You could do take a college course before applying for a trainee IT position with a company.
Courses include:
computing
networking and cyber security
maths
psychology
T Level in Digital Support and Security
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Cyber Security Technical Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More about this route+
Foundation apprenticeship
You may be able to start in a junior or assistant role by doing a Software and Data Level 2, or Hardware, Network and Infrastructure Level 2, Foundation Apprenticeship.
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
are in care or have been in care
are in prison or have been in prison
Other ways in
Work your way up
You can start work with an organisation, for instance as an IT support technician or network engineer. With further on-the-job training, for example through The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS), you may be promoted to an IT security role.
You can also search the UK Cyber Security Council resources for certification courses and training providers linked to different types of security roles.
Apply directly
You can apply directly for work as an IT security co-ordinator if you have experience in IT project management, network engineering or cyber intelligence.
What you’ll need
pass enhanced background checks
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
You can explore different roles in IT security, using the UK Cyber Security Council's careers framework.
Further information
You can find out more about working in IT and digital security from:
techskills
The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS)
UK Cyber Security Council
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for it security co-ordinator. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Forensic computer analyst
You can get into this job through:
University
You can study for a degree or postgraduate qualification in:
forensic computing and security
computer science
cyber security
digital forensics
financial technology
Choosing a course that includes an internship or industry work placement may give you an advantage when looking for jobs.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Digital Forensic Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Cyber Security Technical Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Advanced Digital Forensic Professional Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship
These can take between 2 and 4 years to complete and combine work-based training with academic study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
a degree in a relevant subject
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could start work as an IT support technician, network engineer or junior developer after doing A levels or equivalent qualifications. You could then move into forensic analysis through further training on the job.
Other routes
You could do certified industry training with a professional body like the Chartered Institute of Information Security or The Chartered Institute for IT.
You'll need to be working in IT security or have a lot of relevant experience to do this.
You can learn more about careers in digital forensics from the:
UK Cyber Security Council
National Cyber Security Centre
Chartered Institute for IT
What you’ll need
pass security checks
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for forensic computer analyst. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) Cyber Security Technologist
Higher technical
5
Diploma of Higher Education in Cyber Security
Higher technical
5
FD Cyber Security
Higher technical
5
FdSc Cyber Security
Higher technical
5
FdSc Cyber Security Engineer
Higher technical
5
FdSc Networking and Cyber Security
Higher technical
5
Foundation Degree Cyber Security
Higher technical
5
Foundation Degree of Science (FdSc) in Computer Science
Higher technical
5
HND Applied Computing
Higher technical
5
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing for England
Higher technical
5
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Digital Technologies for England
Higher technical
5
The work
ONS · ESCO · O*NET
Typical tasks
examines IT system for potential threats to its security and integrity and draws up response plans for situations where security is compromised
develops test plans for security systems and undertakes and documents the testing of security systems weaknesses and errors, identifies source of problems and proposes solutions
develops quality standards and validation techniques
makes recommendations concerning software/system quality
deals with and reports on breaches in security
uses specialist software to gather and analyse information and evidence relating to cybercrime and presents findings to law enforcement officials or private clients
Skills
manage IT security compliances
execute ICT audits
identify ICT security risks
lead disaster recovery exercises
define security policies
develop information security strategy
implement ICT risk management
manage disaster recovery plans
execute software tests
identify ICT system weaknesses
perform security vulnerability assessments
solve ICT system problems
build business relationships
perform project management
Knowledge
ICT security legislation
ICT network security risks
ICT security standards
information security strategy
organisational resilience
ICT encryption
computer forensics
cyber attack counter-measures
Suits people who like
Organising and following procedures
Working with ideas and solving problems
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for science, research, engineering and technology professionals, a group of 28 jobs that includes cyber security professionals.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 18%about 394,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.3 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.
