🛡️ Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist – Course Outline

Duration: 24 Months (incl. 4-month EPA window) reddit.com+15skillsengland.education.gov.uk+15firebrand.training+15
Funding Cap: £18,000 (fully funded)
Professional Recognition: RITTech, IISP, BCS, SFIA Level 3

1. Induction & Foundations (Months 1–2)

• Apprenticeship overview & commitment statement

• Cyber security context: threats, hazards, risk reddit.com+15activateapprenticeships.co.uk+15bpp.com+15cityandguilds.com+7newcollegedurham.ac.uk+7skillsengland.education.gov.uk+7

• Governance, legal, ethical compliance

• Workplace security policies & professional behaviours activateapprenticeships.co.uk+1nescot.ac.uk+1

2. Core Knowledge & Technical Deployment (Months 3–9)

• Networking Fundamentals: protocols, architectures, vulnerabilities qa.com+6nescot.ac.uk+6reddit.com+6

• Operating Systems Security: Windows/Linux, access control, patching

• Programming/Scripting: Python, PowerShell basics firebrand.trainingqa.com+1firebrand.training+1

• Cryptography: encryption, hashing, use in securing communication findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk

• Security Architecture & Design: secure configurations, architecture patterns qa.com+15newcollegedurham.ac.uk+15barnsley.ac.uk+15

3. Threat Detection & Response (Months 10–16)

• Threat Intelligence: sourcing, building, interpreting firebrand.training+4activateapprenticeships.co.uk+4tfl.gov.uk+4

• Security Monitoring: SIEM tools, log analysis, alerting tfl.gov.uk

• Incident Response & Forensics: triage, analysis, reporting

• Active Defence: pen-testing, vulnerability assessments skillsengland.education.gov.uk+9newcollegedurham.ac.uk+9nescot.ac.uk+9

4. Risk, Compliance & Governance (Months 17–20)

• Risk Management: risk analysis, mitigations, assessment frameworks newcollegedurham.ac.uk+15skillsengland.education.gov.uk+15barnsley.ac.uk+15

• Governance & Compliance: ISO 27001, legal/regulatory standards barnsley.ac.uk+1nescot.ac.uk+1

• Security Policies: development, communication, end-user training

5. Portfolio & EPA Preparation (Months 21–24)

• Portfolio Development: aligned to KSBs and assessment plan reddit.com+15activateapprenticeships.co.uk+15reddit.com+15

• Synoptic Project: real-world business context, independent execution

• Professional Discussion Prep: scenario-led and test-based assessment activateapprenticeships.co.uk+1cityandguilds.com+1reddit.com+2firebrand.training+2reddit.com+2

• Knowledge Test and Scenario Demonstrations qa.com+2activateapprenticeships.co.uk+2firebrand.training+2

📚 Functional Skills

• Support with Functional English & Maths up to Level 2 as needed nescot.ac.uk+2activateapprenticeships.co.uk+2skillsengland.education.gov.uk+2

🎯 Professional Behaviours & Soft Skills (Ongoing)

• Critical thinking, initiative, organisation, resilience

• Effective communication (technical stakeholders, team collaboration)

• Ethical professionalism and personal responsibility

🛠️ Workplace Integration

• Minimum 20% off-the-job training via workshops & mentor sessions activateapprenticeships.co.uk+1qa.com+1

• Practical hands-on learning in live projects (e.g. SOC rotations, incident log analysis) such as those used by TfL tfl.gov.uk

✅ EPA Structure

1. Summative Portfolio (covering all KSBs) activateapprenticeships.co.uk+1reddit.com+1

2. Synoptic Project

3. Knowledge Test

4. Scenario Demonstration & Professional Discussion qa.com+2activateapprenticeships.co.uk+2firebrand.training+2

5. Employer Reference