Cyber Security Technician vs Cyber Security Technologist — Which Apprenticeship is right for you?

IT Apprenticeships are a great opportunity to start or advance an IT career.

Prospective applicants often ask us about the differences between two of our Apprenticeship standards, Cyber Security Technician and Cyber Security Technologist. Let's take a look.

1. Level and duration

At Firebrand, we specialise in accelerated IT training. This applies to our Apprenticeship standards too.

Our Cyber Security Technician Apprenticeship lasts for 16 months in total, with 13 months practical and a 3-month End Point Assessment (EPA), while Cyber Security Technologist is considerably longer, 24 months, with 20 practical and a 4-month EPA.

In terms of Level, Cyber Security Technician is a Level 3 Apprenticeship, while Cyber Security Technologist is a Level 4.

2. Who are these Apprenticeships for?

Both Apprenticeship standards are best suited to someone with a specific interest in Cyber Security rather than other areas of tech. The difference lies in the degree of detail each programme goes into. 

Cyber Security Technician is a great stepping stone. The programme provides an overview of the foundations and main concepts of Cyber Security, important areas such as Threat Detection, Cryptography, Data Protection, and Risk Management, as well as the legal and ethical aspects of this profession.

Cyber Security Technologist also covers the fundamentals, but delves deeper into areas such as Network Security, Information Security and Management Frameworks, and Threat Assessment. The programme also includes an introduction to Python, which is a popular tool for many facets of IT.

If you think you might be interested in Cyber Security, the Level 3 Technician programme can expose you to enough specialised information to help you decide whether this career is truly for you. On the other hand, if you've been exposed to Cyber Security before and really enjoyed it, Cyber Technologist would be a better path.

3. Which certifications can you receive whilst on programme?

At Firebrand, our Apprenticeships have a special perk: we offer our learners the chance to earn industry recognised IT certifications during their programme. This is free to all learners. These certifications are well-known and respected in the world of IT; they are a great addition to your CV that shows potential employers that you are motivated and knowledgeable about starting your IT career.

These certifications are comprehensive and difficult; passing their exams shows that you truly know what you have studied. 

So, which Cyber Security certifications can you get?

If you choose the Cyber Security Technician path, you will have the chance to receive the Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP) created by the British Computer Society, BCS. This entry-level Cyber Security certificate is recognised throughout the industry.

On the other hand, if you choose the Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship, you have the opportunity to receive three certifications: CompTIA Security+, which is an equivalent of the BCS CISMP, along with CompTIA Network+, which gives you the foundations of Networking, and the EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND), an introductory certification in Network Security.

Remember that it's quality over quantity, though: it may seem a better deal to go for the Apprenticeship programme with more certifications; however, these courses are specialised and difficult; it's simply not worth your time to put this much effort into something you don't enjoy doing.

We hope this blog has helped you understand more clearly which Apprenticeship programme may be for you. Best of luck!

What is Firebrand?

For the past 13 years in a row, we’ve been named one of the Top 20 IT Training Companies in the World.

We were the first Apprenticeship provider to adopt the new Digital Standards and, two years ago, we became the first training provider to be inducted into the World Skills Excellence programmes.

We specialise in accelerated courses, Apprenticeships, and Skills Bootcamps that get you certified and into IT at twice the speed.

Perhaps one of them is right for you?

See all our Apprenticeship vacancies and apply.