Certificate in Cyber Security Practices

Our intensive cyber security course will boost your CV with an NCFE Accreditation. Whether you're starting or looking to sharpen your skills, we've designed a flexible learning experience that's totally free if you qualify for a funded place. Hit apply now and start your journey to safeguarding digital systems like a pro.

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Course Details:

6 weeks full-time, 11 weeks part-time

100% online or face-to-face

Career-boosting tech skills

150 hours

Level 3, Netcom Certificate of Completion, NCFE Certificate in Cyber Security Practices

Adult Skills Fund / Free Courses for Jobs

Master the fundamentals

You’ll explore threat intelligence in depth, including how to identify threat models, recognise types of malicious software and understand social engineering tactics. You’ll also cover key security testing methods, ways to reduce vulnerabilities and how to implement strong cyber security controls.

Learn industry best practices

You’ll learn how to build incident response plans and write post-mortem reports, giving you practical tools to respond effectively to security breaches. The course also dives into essential legislation, industry standards and ethical considerations that shape best practice in the field.

Skills beyond the tech

Alongside technical training, you’ll develop the professional skills needed to grow your cyber security career, from communication and project management to continuous professional development. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to take your first steps into this fast-paced and high-demand sector.

Do you qualify for a fully funded place?

You could train for free if you meet our eligibility criteria:

  • You live in the West Midlands, Greater London or Greater Manchester 
  • You’re aged 19 or over 
  • You earn below the gross annual wage cap of £34,194 (West Midlands)/£28,860 (London)/£32,400 (Manchester) 
  • You’re not currently undertaking any other government-funded training 
  • You’re not in the UK on a student, graduate, postgraduate or sponsorship visa, or as a dependent of someone who is 

Netcom graduates landed roles at...

The curriculum

A sample of what you'll learn on our Level 3 Cyber Security course...

View the full course overview

Cyber security principles

You’ll start by exploring the fundamentals of cyber security, gaining a clear understanding of the risks and consequences of poor digital protection. Get to grips with key terminology, uncover what drives both ethical and malicious actors and examine the pros and cons of designing systems with security built in from the start.

Threat intelligence in cyber security

Develop a clear understanding of threat intelligence and how to use Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) effectively. You’ll explore the importance of reliable, trustworthy information sources, get to grips with common threat models and examine the impact of malicious software on systems and organisations.

Cyber security testing, vulnerabilities and controls

You’ll explore the most common types of testing used in cyber security and learn what steps to take once testing reveals potential risks. You’ll get to grips with how vulnerabilities are identified, what they mean and how to respond when they appear. You’ll also build your knowledge of cyber security controls and learn how to apply a basic control yourself.

Cyber security incident response

You’ll learn what makes an effective cyber security incident response plan and how to use a response checklist when things go wrong. You’ll also build the skills to create a clear, practical post-incident report, helping teams understand what happened, why it happened and how to prevent it in future.

Legislation and ethical conduct within cyber security

You’ll explore the key legislation that underpins cyber security in the UK and internationally, gaining an understanding of how laws and regulations protect data and systems. You’ll also examine the role of information security standards in shaping best practice and why ethical conduct is essential in every cyber role.

Professional skills and behaviours for cyber security

You’ll explore the behaviours, skills and standards expected in a cyber security career, from understanding security clearance levels to the types of employee screening checks employers may carry out. You’ll assess your own strengths, identify areas for growth and learn why ongoing professional development is essential in this fast-moving field.

Meet your mentors

Our expert instructors are here to guide you through the course, answer your questions and help develop your career goals. Once you’ve completed a Netcom course, our dedicated careers coaches will be on hand to help you take the next steps.

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Where could a cyber course take you?

Our Cyber Security training courses are your ticket to some seriously exciting career opportunities.

Information Security Analyst - £25,000-£35,000

Think you can outsmart cyber threats? As an Information Security Analyst, you’ll protect your company’s networks and systems by finding weak spots, setting up security policies and making sure everything complies with laws and best practices. You’ll be the first line of defence against online threats.

Incident Responder Analyst - £25,000-£35,000

If fast action is your thing, being an Incident Responder Analyst is for you. Working in a Security Operations Center (SOC), you’ll respond to cyber incidents in real time, minimise damage and come up with strategies to keep those attacks from happening again. It’s all about reacting quickly and preventing the next disaster.

Junior Forensic Analyst - £22,000-£30,000

Love solving digital mysteries? As a Junior Forensic Analyst, you’ll dive into digital investigations, analyse data from hacked systems and help prepare reports for law enforcement. You’ll be learning the ropes of forensic work under the guidance of senior analysts, gathering and analysing data to crack the case.

IT Support Apprentice - £12,000-£18,000

As an IT Support Apprentice, you’ll get real experience helping with tech problems, troubleshooting and learning about IT infrastructure. It’s the perfect start to your career, with an apprenticeship that’ll set you up for success in the IT world.

Entry level Compliance Specialist - £20,000-£28,000

Ready to help companies stay on track? As an Entry-Level Compliance Specialist, you’ll monitor how well your organisation is following regulations, spot potential risks and assist with training. Staying updated on industry trends and best practices will make you a key player in keeping everything compliant.

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Please complete the form below for more information. We will contact you as soon as we receive your online application. You can call us on 0121 450 9300 to discuss the course

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1. Eligibility

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Hear from the Netcom Training Alumni

"I really enjoyed my course, my tutor was very clear in the lessons and his pace when teaching was just right for me. I have learned things that interest me and feel a little more confident moving forward on my journey into cyber security "

E howe
05 March 2026

"The lessons were really helpful and engaging, I worked as part of a great group who persevered through from start to finish. Lots of engaging activities that got us thinking and improved on already existing skills and gave confidence for new ones like remembering what we learnt in previous lessons. This was all thanks to Shaun, a friendly, professional and extremely patient tutor who guided us through the workbooks and inspired us to elevate our understanding of Cyber Security; I regained an interest in the industry through this course and it has helped me to understand better, the type of role I wish to pursue and what I must do to reach my goals. Committing to a night school on top of working full time is far from easy and I questioned if I would see it through, given how much time I would have to sacrifice but I'm glad I completed it. Another achievement and qualification to go on the CV and hopefully a future involving IT security. "

Thomas Davies
05 March 2026

"My experience with NetCom was very good overall. I completed the Cyber Security Level 3 course, and the trainer, Shaun, was very nice, helpful, and excellent at explaining the material in a way that was easy to understand. The course material was very well made and clearly presented, which made it much easier to understand the topics covered throughout the course. The resources provided were also very good and helpful for learning and revising the content. They were easy to access and well organised, making it simple to find the information needed when studying or completing tasks. Netcom also does a great job supporting career progression."

Aafia Hussain
05 March 2026

"The style of teaching was Great, course work and materials were spot on and easy to access. Great Teacher/instructor."

papanaff
05 March 2026

"Learnt a lot from my cybersecurity course and enjoyed my time throughout. My tutor Shaun and my employability coaches were very helpful teaching me about cybersecurity and what to do next. "

Kamarl Grant
05 March 2026

"Had an excellent experience being taught by Shaun Bradley on the cybersecurity course. The classes were thorough and great, had a brilliant experience and would recommend this to anyone looking to get their foot in the door to learning some new technical skills."

Donovan Beckles-Hastie
05 March 2026

"shaun bradley was a great mentor enjoyed lessons and with the team."

shuborna
05 March 2026

"It went well for me as I learned a lot of things during the course. The modules are useful and really helpful. Special mention for Shaun as he was very professional and helped me whenever I needed him."

Justice
05 March 2026

"i enjoyed the cybersecurity course delivered by Netcom the tutor Antwan cant sing his praise high enough an awesome tutor with a passionate style of teaching makes it easy to engage helps you to feel comfortable and gently takes you out of your comfort zone. 10/10 "

L B
23 January 2026

"The course was informative and tutor Atwan Atkins made the experience fun. Feel more confident in cyber security now and looking forward to the next steps. If you want to learn something new or improve your skills, go to Netcom, you won't regret it."

William Brittain
23 January 2026

"The course was great and intuitive. The tutor was a great guy who offered as much support as possible. Loads of resources to help you out. I just wish the course was a bit longer and allowed for a bit more breathing room for submitting workbooks."

Eden Hobbs
23 January 2026

"Five stars for Netcom! The social media and web design course gave me the skills and confidence to launch my own business. Our tutor, Gary, was the best business mentor and teacher I could have asked for. Plus, the ongoing 1-2-1 support for CVs and job hunting shows they are truly invested in your future. Highly recommended for anyone looking to level up."

Petya Spencer
20 January 2026

"I joined the Web Design and Social Media Marketing training with little real hope, but that soon evaporated as Gary Murrain-Meade provided an inclusive training experience on how to prompt and drive AI accurately to create a business plan, website, and social posts within weeks. Gary was considerate of all our training needs and was by my side throughout the training/ up-skilling. Gary, thank you for giving me the confidence to pursue marketing within an AI environment. "

jeeten Taank
19 January 2026

"I have just completed social media marketing and web design course and what an experience. I can't believe how much I learnt in 6 weeks. I have never done an online course like this, where you have to be on a camera for so many ours, our trainer Gary was fantastic, the way he keeps the class dynamic and teaches from personal experience was exceptional. I highly recommend Netcom to anyone interested in any of the subjects they teach."

AC
17 January 2026

"Can’t believe this has ended. The become course with Gary has been exceptional, I’ve been inspired and have learned so much in these weeks. I will definitely recommend this course for anyone that wants to be self-employed. Worth every minute! "

Zoe Owusu
16 January 2026

"Course tutor 100/10 Netcom team 10/10 Course knowledge 10/10 I am grateful and happy I had the chance the do this course . Highly recommended. "

Abrar Mohammed
16 January 2026

"Taken the Social media and web design course and absolutely loved it. Our tutor Gary was an amazing teacher, calm with us and understanding of each others individuality towards learning. Had a blast, met some great people. Would do it all over again if i could. Recommend 100%"

David Bond
16 January 2026

"My head is still spinning from the amount of knowledge and practical skills I have gained over the past few weeks. Our tutor, Gary, was outstanding in the way he delivered highly detailed sessions while remaining energetic, engaging, and supportive throughout. I have gained a wealth of valuable information and also had the pleasure of connecting with a wonderful group of people. I am now excited to put these new skills into practice — watch this space!"

Lisa
16 January 2026

"Absolutely amazing training. Now that i have completed it, i cant believe what i have learned in such a short space of time. The education gained is better that i have experienced anywhere else. And now, i feel fully equipped and ready to start my own business in the AI web developer space. Thank you Netcom and a special thanks to our trainer Gary Murrain-Meade. Great teacher and his style was fantastic. Really kept the whole class engaged throughout the whole process. Many thanks "

Mr Haroon Qammar
16 January 2026

"I entered the program with a lower head and just wanted to get busy with something. Thanks to my instructor and the team, they helped my confidence, and I just received transferable skills I can always use in my projects. The classes are fun with a lot of banter. I can't believe I learnt a lot in 6 weeks."

Sulaimon Adams
16 January 2026

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