Discover the Cyber Security Role that Fits You Best
Cybersecurity Careers: Which Path Is Right for You?
Cybersecurity is one of the few industries where demand for talent keeps growing—and so does the variety of roles available. Whether you’re looking for something hands-on and technical, strategic and policy-focused, or communication-based, there’s a career path in cyber that fits.
The question isn’t “Can I get into cyber?” It’s “What kind of work do I want to do in cyber—and how do I get started?”
The Harness Projects Cybersecurity Career Launcher aims to give you hands-on experience across key areas of the industry. You’ll complete three real-world projects with real clients, supported by industry mentors who are leaders in their field. It’s not just about learning—it’s about doing, and discovering where you want to go next.
Below we walk through five common entry-level pathways in cybersecurity. Discussed also is how our projects connect to the skills that employers are actually looking for.
🔍 1. Risk & Governance (GRC)
What it involves: Helping organisations identify and manage cybersecurity risks, create policies, and stay compliant with security standards and laws.
Common tasks:
- Conducting risk assessments
- Writing or reviewing security policies
- Supporting audits and internal reviews
- Communicating risk clearly to leadership
Who it suits:
- People from admin, law, teaching, or business
- Cybersecurity or IT grads who lean toward policy or compliance
- Strong writers who like structured, process-driven work
Project 1
In Project 1 of our Cybersecurity Career Launcher, we’ll cover key capabilities in the Risk Assessment domain. As part of this audit, you will analyze many areas including (but not limited to): IT Infrastructure and Software, Threat Landscape and Regulatory Compliance fir a real company.
Job market: High demand, particularly in finance, health, and government. Experience with frameworks and the ability to write clearly are key hiring criteria—which this project helps you demonstrate.
🛡️ 2. Security Operations & Incident Response
What it involves: Working in Security Operations Centres (SOCs) to monitor systems and respond to threats in real time.
Common tasks:
- Investigating suspicious activity
- Assisting with incident containment and response
- Writing up incident summaries
- Following formalised response protocols
Who it suits:
- People with IT or help desk experience
- Cybersecurity grads who haven’t had practical exposure yet
- Career-switchers who are curious, calm under pressure, and good at structured problem solving
Relevant project: In project 2 of our Cybersecurity Career Launcher, we’ll cover key capabilities in the Incident Response domain. You will prepare an incident response plan that suits a companies’ specific business attributes. The including details on how that company should respond in the event of an incident.
Job market: Consistently strong. SOCs and managed security services providers need junior staff, and practical experience—especially in incident documentation—is what separates candidates.
🧪 3. Vulnerability Assessment & Security Testing
What it involves: Finding and documenting weaknesses in systems before attackers do. Often a first step toward roles in penetration testing or red teaming.
Common tasks:
- Running security scans
- Prioritising and documenting vulnerabilities
- Recommending practical fixes
- Working with development or IT teams on remediation
Who it suits:
- Cyber/IT grads who want hands-on technical exposure
- Technically minded career-changers
- Anyone willing to put in extra time to explore scanning tools and platforms
Relevant Project: In Project 3 of our Cybersecurity Career Launcher, we’ll cover key capabilities in the Vulnerability Assessment domain. You will work directly with client stakeholders, gathering requirements through interviews and presenting your findings, culminating in a comprehensive vulnerability report. This project not only teaches you about cybersecurity risks but also about how to communicate these risks to clients, ensuring they understand the potential impacts and the steps required for remediation.
Job market: Very strong—but also more competitive. Employers want candidates who’ve used tools like Nessus, Nmap, or OpenVAS. This project gives you that edge—especially when paired with further exploration during the course.
📣 4. Security Awareness & Training
What it involves: Helping people inside an organisation understand security risks and follow better habits.
Common tasks:
- Running staff education campaigns
- Writing easy-to-follow guidance
- Supporting internal security training
- Helping different departments understand their responsibilities
Project relevance: Every project in this course involves communicating with real stakeholders—writing clearly, presenting findings, and translating security concepts for non-technical audiences. These are exactly the skills needed in awareness and education roles.
Who it suits:
- Teachers, HR, comms professionals, or public-facing staff
- Cybersecurity students with strong interpersonal skills
- People who enjoy breaking down complex ideas for others
Job market: Growing steadily—especially in industries with large or remote workforces. Employers are more likely to hire based on communication skills and understanding of risk, both of which these projects build.
🕵️ 5. Threat Intelligence & Research
What it involves: Investigating the tactics and behaviour of cyber attackers, and helping organisations prepare for new threats.
Common tasks:
- Monitoring threat feeds and alerts
- Writing threat briefings for internal teams
- Analysing phishing trends or malware
- Supporting incident response with context and insight
Project relevance: The Incident Response project in our Career Launcher Course builds core investigative skills. You’ll simulate a real breach, trace its impact, and document your findings. This kind of structured thinking is exactly what’s needed in early threat intelligence work.
Who it suits:
- Researchers, writers, and analysts
- Cybersecurity grads with a preference for investigation over system setup
- Pattern spotters and big-picture thinkers
Job market: Growing fast—especially in finance, telecom, and government. These roles are more competitive, so producing clear reports and showing critical thinking is key.
For Cybersecurity & IT Grads Still Looking for Work
If you’ve studied cyber or IT but are struggling to land a job, you’re not alone. Many employers are looking for one thing graduates often lack: evidence you can apply what you know.
This course is designed to give you that edge. You’ll leave with:
- Real-world projects you can speak to in interviews
- Hands-on experience with the tools and processes teams use every day
- Mentorship from respected industry professionals
- The ability to demonstrate—not just claim—job-readiness
Whether you’re aiming for a SOC analyst role, GRC, or vulnerability work, this course fills the “experience gap” that holds many grads back.
🌟 Real Stories: Mason and Belle
Harness Projects Career Launcher Graduate Mason came from a technical background but lacked experience to land a role. Through his vulnerability assessment project—scanning a real web app for security flaws—he gained the applied skills and confidence to secure a job as a Security Analyst at SilverSky, a managed security provider.
Our graduate Belle, by contrast, came from a non-technical background in education. She worked on a GRC-focused project, where she helped develop risk documentation and policy. Her strong communication skills, paired with real project work, helped her land a GRC role before she even finished the course. Their stories reflect the core idea behind Harness Projects: there’s more than one way into cybersecurity—and real experience makes the difference.
Final Word
Cybersecurity isn’t a single job—it’s an industry of diverse and meaningful careers. Whether you’re starting out, switching paths, or building on previous study, the most important thing is building real experience and figuring out what kind of work you want to do. Harness Projects aims to help you do both. Across three client projects, supported by leaders in the field, you’ll build a practical foundation, develop professional confidence, and find your place in this industry.
Explore our Cybersecurity Career Launcher and start your career transformation today.
Book a call with our team to discuss our scholarships and to see if our live client projects are the right fit for your career journey.
