Net-Defence values transferable skills to bridge cyber skills gap

Net-Defence is adopting a new approach to cyber recruitment that moves away from the traditional emphasis on formal degrees and industry certifications. Instead, the company is focusing on transferable skills from candidates with diverse professional backgrounds. This strategy is designed to address the ongoing shortage of qualified cyber security professionals in the sector.

Diverse backgrounds

The company is recruiting employees from sectors such as hospitality, retail, and business administration, recognising the value of skills developed in these industries. Communication, problem-solving, and analytical abilities gained in customer-facing roles are now being prioritised as key assets in prospective candidates.

Debra Cairns, Managing Director at Net-Defence, has been instrumental in this transition. She has put an emphasis on understanding each employee's individual skill set to identify pathways for career development within the business.

"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," said Debra Cairns, Managing Director, Net-Defence.

Employee progression

The company's approach is exemplified through the experiences of people such as Scott Redpath, who joined Net-Defence following a career in hospitality and retail. Redpath retrained through self-study, building skills in IT before joining the company and achieving further qualifications.

Another example is Simon Richardson, who started with Net-Defence as a business administration apprentice. Richardson transitioned into telecoms and later into cyber security, a move supported by the company over his 26-year career at Net-Defence.

"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," said Simon Richardson, Telecoms Support and Cyber Security Analyst, Net-Defence.

Wider benefits

Net-Defence argues that recognising transferable abilities makes it easier to train new staff, reducing the need for candidates to have extensive previous cyber experience. The company points to critical skills such as risk management, compliance, teamwork, and process orientation - many of which can come from sectors outside technology.

Cairns believes that these varied perspectives strengthen the company's ability to identify and manage cyber threats, broadening the available talent pool and diversifying problem-solving within security teams.

"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," said Cairns.