There are many routes into a career in cyber security. While some cyber professionals enter the industry straight from school or university, later stage career changers make up a large portion of the workforce. As cyber roles are hugely varied, there are many roles a person could have done previously that would make them suitable for a career in cyber, however there are some roles that tend to produce highly capable technical cyber professionals.

One such role is one in the Armed Forces. As people used to careers in high stakes environments and coping well under pressure, veterans tend to transition well into technical cyber security roles. As well as being adept at dealing well with threats, veterans also often have the necessary security clearances that can also be a benefit for government cyber security roles.

The skills gap in the cyber security industry currently sits at about 14,000, and if the UK is to live up to the government’s pledge to become the safest place to live and work online, this urgently needs to be addressed. At the same time, it's important to provide strong employment opportunities for those exiting the British Armed forces. With the desirable attributes many Armed Forces veterans have for a career in cyber security, it seems obvious that providing pathways into cyber for veterans should be a priority.

TechVets launched in 2018 and seeks to signpost employment and training opportunities for the Forces community, allowing veterans, Service leavers, reservists and their families to combine their military and life experience with their new leading digital skills acquired through TechVets to gain sustainable careers in information technology.

To learn more about other routes into cyber security, visit: https://www.ukcybersecuritycouncil.org.uk/careers-and-learning/entry-routes-regulated-qualifications/.