There doesn’t seem to be a day when cyber isn’t hitting the news, and with the cyber security skills gap growing faster than the talent supply,the demand for cyber security professionals continues to outpace the availability of qualified candidates.
Research shows that many roles remain unfilled because organisations focus too narrowly on hiring individuals with specific degrees or certifications.
However, Net-Defence, provider of IT support, telephony, and cyber resilience services are combatting traditional norms around recruitment by identifying transferable skills and abilities gained in other fields that can be applied to cyber security – thereby attracting and retaining a host of employees from diverse industries and supporting the fulfilment of job roles in the company.
The company’s new approach challenges long-standing industry norms that prioritise formal certifications and degrees over diverse professional experience. By opening doors to candidates from non-traditional backgrounds and looking beyond the CV, Net-Defence has built a more inclusive, adaptable, and creative cyber security workforce.
Debra Cairns, Managing Director at Net-Defence, is leading the charge and making it her mission to understand the skill set of every employee under her leadership to identify opportunities for their career growth and diversification.
Debra said, “Here at Net-Defence we’re proving that great cyber defenders aren’t defined by their degrees, technical qualifications can be taught, but curiosity, analytical thinking, and resilience are innate qualities that can come from any background.
Cyber security requires a mix of skills, many of which are developed in other professions, and, over the years, it’s been great to see the in-house growth and development in the team as a result of our approach to recruitment and employee career development.”
Scott Redpath, System Support Analyst at Net-Defence, built a background in the hospitality and retail sectors, and his experiences in these customer-facing roles provided him with valuable communication and problem-solving skills. Recognising a passion for technology, Scott spent time retraining to work in the IT sector through a self-study programme and then went on to achieve numerous milestones, qualifications, and certifications with Net-Defence.
Simon Richardson, Telecoms Support and Cyber Security Analyst, has been a valued member of the Net-Defence team since 1998. His career at Net-Defence started with a business administration apprenticeship, and shortly after joining the team he realised he had a keen interest in telecoms and becoming a technician within the sector
Simon added, “One of the standout aspects of working at Net-Defence is the opportunity for specialisation in various sectors, and I was given the opportunity to pursue my passion for all things cyber by transitioning into a cyber security role within the company. My career development over the last 26 years, which has been heavily supported by Net-Defence, has been incredible.”
Recognising these transferable abilities allows employers to train candidates more efficiently, reducing the reliance on years of direct cyber security experience. From problem-solving and critical thinking, risk management and compliance, attention to detail, and process orientation through to communication and teamwork, these core attributes are vital to the sector.
Debra added, “Cyber security benefits from diverse perspectives to anticipate and mitigate complex threats and by valuing transferable skills we have successfully opened our doors to a range of non-traditional candidates who are thriving in the company. Our approach really does broaden the talent pool and leads to more innovative problem-solving within security teams.
“By valuing transferable skills, we’re not just filling roles – we’re transforming what it means to build a modern cyber workforce.”