Choosing an apprenticeship route over university and other options post A-Levels can be a very daunting prospect, especially in a technical field like cyber security. I'd like to tell you a bit about my experience of being a cyber apprentice at NHS Digital, and how it has helped me get to where I am now.

I joined NHS Digital at the end of 2017 through a cross-government scheme after completing an IT networking diploma at college. The scheme required me to take numerous tests and interviews, just like those found on a graduate scheme. But for me, 18 at the time, this was all very new.  
 

It was exciting for me to work in the CSOC, knowing that I was helping to monitor networks that are vital to protecting the NHS against a real cyber threat. I was very proud to become a trusted and reliable member of the CSOC, so being offered a full-time position in this role made the last two years of hard work feel extremely worthwhile.

My apprenticeship also included 12 weeks of cyber security training courses, covering topics such as malware analysis, cyber operations and penetration testing. These courses broadened my knowledge of cyber security and helped me with my day-to-day responsibilities, especially with my time in the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC).

I've also had the opportunity to speak at events and run awaydays for other apprentices across similar government schemes. Two years ago, I could not have imagined anything I would rather do less than putting myself in front of a room full of people to deliver a talk .The apprenticeship has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and as a result I've been able to develop many new skills.  

In my new role as a cyber security advisor I’ll continue to build my knowledge of our monitoring solutions and I want to push myself to learn Python as this is a big part of processing my team’s threat intelligence feeds. I will also be playing a key part in monitoring the network traffic for NHS Secure Boundary, a perimeter security solution which protects against the most sophisticated security threats for NHS organisations, once it is all onboarded.
  
The best advice I could give to someone starting out as an apprentice, or to anyone who is considering it, would be to come into it with enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Being proactive about work and fearless when asking for help is key - there really is no such thing as a stupid question.  I was initially a bit nervous to ask questions, worrying that I might sound stupid or that colleagues would not have any time for me. However, the reality is just the opposite and once I realised this, it helped me become the cyber security professional I wanted to be. 
 
With the right mindset and an eagerness to learn you have the potential to make a real impact in the workplace.