Cyber Security Practice

The QA Cyber Security practice offers the UK’s broadest and deepest end-to-end curriculum of cyber training programmes, combined with the largest global learning ecosystem of cyber industry partners. Building on our experience in this area, we offer a number of cyber boot camps, providing organisations with a source of accredited, early-careers and specialised cyber talent.

We also offer a series of apprenticeships in cyber security from Level 4 up to Level 6. And for more experienced staff, we can provide MSc courses in cybersecurity through our university partnerships.

Our mission is aligned to the 2022 UK National Cyber Strategy, to strengthen the UK cyber ecosystem by enhancing and expanding the nation’s cyber skills at every level.

Learning solutions are offered across a range of delivery methods, including face-to-face and virtual instructor-led delivery and our range of cyber digital platform providers. We also offer bespoke and private training solutions, customised to specific client needs.

The QA Cyber Security portfolio is aligned with security skills frameworks including NIST/NICE and CIISEC. It comprises the following security knowledge areas:

We build and deliver more cyber programmes than any other UK provider. We have more than 25 specialist cyber instructors who, across a range of national programmes, have educated 17,000+ students in the last four years. Our 80+ cyber courses include more than 20 certified by the National Cyber Security Centre.

QA helps deliver Cyber Security programmes for a range of the UK’s biggest organisations across the private and public sector, including Atos, MoJ, Ministry of Defence, Women in Cyber Programme and the National Cybercrime programme.

QA is the only UK Circadence partner and is proud to offer this immersive platform to our clients.

The platform uniquely combines machine learning, single- and multiplayer exercises, and offensive and defensive missions that mirror real-life threat scenarios.

Our cyber apprenticeship programmes are arming UK organisations with the defenders of the future.

“Being the first female cyber security apprenticeship achiever in the UK is exciting because I'm hoping that, with this result, I can help to inspire more women into a career in tech. I want them to know that you don't always need a strong technical background before starting your career, or have a particular 'personality type' to fit into the industry.”

Stephanie Haynes, UK's first female cyber apprentice

How do we get the right consultants for the job? We use our Recruit-Train-Deploy model.

We train consultants in DevSecOps, Cyber Security Operations Centres (CSOCs) and IT Operations Centres (ITOCs) so they can work in security monitoring and threat intelligence and detect incidents and concerns.

The Cyber Security 12-week academy programme upskills experienced tech candidates to create cyber tech specialists ready to be deployed and hit the ground running at a client site.

“More than half of all businesses and charities (54%) have a basic technical cyber security skills gap, falling to 18% in public sector organisations. Given the inherent nature of cyber threats to a digital economy, such a capability gap is not sustainable.”

Ipsos MORI 2019 Cyber Skills Survey

CyberFirst is a pivotal part of the UK government’s National Cyber Security Programme, helping young people explore their passion for tech by introducing them to the world of cyber security. It covers a broad range of activities including schools development courses, a girls-only competition and comprehensive bursary and apprenticeship schemes. 

The schools development courses, designed and developed by QA in collaboration with the NCSC offer over 2500 free course places to 12-17 year old students annually at universities and colleges across the UK. Each course is designed to give talented young people the technical skills, practical experience and industry exposure they need to start their journey toward cyber-related careers and opportunities, preparing them for a possible role in making Britain the safest place to live and work online.  In 2019 the CyberFirst courses were formally recognised by The Scottish Qualification Authority who credit rated them comparable to GSCE level, against their robust and rigorous educational framework.

“The UK needs to tackle the systemic issues at the heart of the cyber skills shortage...”

National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021, HM Government

QA Higher Education partners with Northumbria University to deliver a cyber security masters programme that is designed to give students the specialist skills required to meet the increased demand and continue the fight against cybercrime.

“Cyber security is a never-ending game; it’s about finding something new and working with it. Having a masters degree can help you through all of these challenges in a systematic and methodical way.”

Stephen Sampana, MSc Cyber Security (Part-Time)