Staff from communications giant BT have said how excited they are to be learning cutting-edge cyber security skills from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
The telecoms firm has chosen to send its cyber security apprentices to DMU’s sector-leading Cyber Security Centre, where they will be trained in the techniques needed to defend against sophisticated computer-based attacks.
In the past few years, there has been a growing number of high-profile cyber-attacks on large organisations and late last year, the Government announced it would double national spending on cyber defence over the next five years.
To ensure the highest levels of cyber protection, BT Security is enrolling its apprentices at DMU, to complete the university’s two-year MSc in Cyber Security.
The first students have now started the course, which is taught by Dr Richard Howley.
Ryan Evans, 18, is a higher apprentice in BT’s Cyber Security division, which is based in Sevenoaks, in Kent.
He said: “It’s intense there’s a lot to learn. The lecturer is really professional , you trust him, he knows what he’s talking about because he’s been there and done it.”
Over the course of their studies, students will be able to study in DMU’s dedicated purpose-built, Cyber Security Centre, which is a state-of-the-art cyber security and forensics laboratory, equipped with the latest machines and equipment.
The course looks at not only the technical side of cyber security but the role of linguistics, psychology and sociology in dealing with new cyber challenges.
Natalie George, 24, said she was excited to be studying at DMU.
She said: “I did a degree in forensic computing at university, which looked at crime scene investigation but I was drawn into cyber security because I could see what a big role it was going to play in the future.
“There are always going to be new attacks so new techniques to learn and I love that about the work. We knew how good the DMU course was so we were really pleased when we heard we would be training on it.”
Leah Robertson, 20, works at BT’s Edinburgh headquarters. She said: “The whole course seems really well planned, a good mixture of theory and practical with a really passionate and knowledgeable lecturer.”
Dr Helge Janicke, Head of DMU’s Cyber Security Centre said: “We offer the country’s leading cyber security training and we are proud to have BT choose DMU to train its staff.
“Cyber security is already becoming one of the most important technological fields and demand for these skills is only to increase. We at DMU are in a very strong position to meet that demand.”
Rob Partridge, Head of BT’s Security Academy, said: “I’m delighted that our Cyber Security Higher Apprentices will receive an academic qualification that has been designed specifically around our needs as a business.
“Together with Tech Partnership and a consortium of employers, we have created an apprentice framework that meets the needs of cyber security organisations, and DMU have developed an academic programme that will develop these young people and launch them into fulfilling and inspiring careers. I am excited at the prospect of seeing our apprentices develop their skills at DMU.”
Posted on Tuesday 1 March 2016