Training for any job is really important, partly to make sure that the person can do the job effectively, but also to give the person the confidence to be able to do it.
Traditionally, formal training has been quite common in public sector jobs, but in private and commercial work, most training tended to be informal or on the job, with the exception of certain professions.
This need for more formal and ongoing training has become more obvious in certain industries, and is a crucial element of most jobs in cyber security.
A lot of the formal training is done through universities and colleges, and increasingly specialised websites, which are themselves training companies.
Training can encompass certifications, degrees, masters, as well as in house specialised courses
The quality of training can vary, like training in any industry, and largely depends upon the experience and skill of the trainer themselves.
When it comes to training, there is a very important principle to follow.
The applicant, or employee, needs to have a very clear idea of what job they want to do, and what training, either formal or informal, is needed in order to do the job properly.
Once this has been established, then the applicant is in a position to assess who offers the best training available to them, either online or on campus.
This assumes that the individual is arranging their own training, either in order to get a job in cyber security, or as part of on-going professional development.
If the employer is providing the training, then it’s obviously a different matter.
The employee still has a responsibility to make sure that the training does cover what it is meant to, as that is an assumption that the employer will make, unless told otherwise.
There is one caveat that needs to be made regarding all types of training establishments, be they universities or online companies.
They will all to an extent offer a sales pitch to their training, with the pitch being, generally, that this training will lead to certain career paths.
This pitch may well give the impression that the training provider is on the side of the individual applying for the training, and is working with them to get what the individual wants.
This may be true to an extent, but it should be remembered that the training provider is first and foremost interested in selling their own training.
The overlap between the needs of the individual, and the content of the course itself may well be high, but individuals should always remember that they are two separate needs.
