Our cyber security journey
The dot-com bubble bursts to on-demand economy era
Since graduating in 2024 I haven’t really found my place in what everyone deems the ‘real-life’ working world. We all pursue the University pathway with the promise of a dream post graduate opportunity – working at a dream company, in a dream role paving your way to an extraordinarily successful future. However, no one prepares you for the task of finding one of these roles after spending 3, 4 or even 5 years studying tirelessly, with real skills only developed in a learning and educational setting.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved my degree! My university years were some of my favourites, learning so much about myself, creating new friendships and of course developing a deeper understanding of my chosen course. Alongside this, developing the independent life skills needed to live in a city hundreds of miles away from home. The only thing I missed was preparation of what comes next.
I had no real idea of work possibilities after graduating – maybe if I had a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor or lawyer, I would have been more proactive in my search of work experience during my years at University. It’s hard to know without experience and it’s hard to search for experience without knowing.
Then an Intern role opportunity arrives. It covers all these obscurities as it offers the opportunity to trial and learn in multiple different areas, specific enough to gain valuable experience but not too specific to be niche with no applicability. Luckily for me, a paid internship is exactly what I am now doing at CITI.
On-premise
Cloud hosted
Week four
Now on my fourth week I have listened, learned and observed many valuable skills and experiences already. It has enabled me to begin to understand my current strengths, areas to build on and areas I might be interested in pursuing as I continue my work here.
It is always daunting to begin something you don’t have the experience for. On paper I have no ‘real’ work experience, I haven’t worked with clients, I haven’t worked on IT systems, (or properly formatted an email before). I haven’t led, managed, strategised or solved in any business capacity. However, what I have learnt is the skill itself is only half the path to success. Determination, openness, sharing opinions and showing initiative are just a few extras that make up that other half. CITI are helping me to develop and practise all the skills I’m yet to possess, but they have recognised the additional competencies I do have and my potential to positively impact the company.
Some high-level figures based on the UK economy in 2024
£64 billion annually
£3.1 billion annually for the general public
£3.4 billion annual losses for SMEs
£990 average cost per cyber-crime
£5,900 average cost per cyber-facilitated fraud
£x billion annually
Why we value the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation
They have been incredible in welcoming me into my first full time role. The team have taken the time to teach me about their roles and how each cog contributes to the running of a successful business. Operationally, I now know how to manage the setup of multiple Accredited courses, ensuring efficiency in delivery of correct information and content as well as booking exams and inputting results. Separately, I have learnt how to implement a CRM and use it to run a monthly sales forecast, highlighting strengths and gaps in our business sales. This month I attended one of CITI’s Communities of Expertise (CofEe Club) events in which I was able to hear about other professionals responsibilities and difficulties faced within their business, revealing the importance of shared experience and business collaboration in the realm of change leadership and management.
Final Thought
In sum, from a business of such strong leaders and experts in their fields, I have so much to absorb. I can say with certainty I have already learnt so many principal things in my first four weeks that I will carry forward into my personal and professional future.
An internship can pave the way for the dream job – even if you’re not quite sure what that dream job is just yet. It is true that success lies behind the trial and error, learning, determination and openness to new opportunities, and I’m excited to be progressing in the right direction.
The Cyber Essentials Plus certification is a testament to our collective diligence and investment in IT resilience. It opens doors to new opportunities, reinforces trust, and ensures that we continue to operate securely and confidently in an increasingly digital world.
As we look ahead, our cyber security journey is far from over – it is a continuous commitment to vigilance, innovation, and shared responsibility. At CITI, we believe that true resilience is built not only through robust systems and certifications like Cyber Essentials Plus, but through a culture where every individual plays a role in safeguarding our digital future.
Let’s continue to challenge complacency, embrace best practices, and support one another in staying secure. Together, we can ensure that trust, integrity, and operational excellence remain at the heart of everything we do – if these values ring true with you and your organisation, get it touch to see how we can help!
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