Cyber PATH student, Sapphire Little continues on her cyber journey at Eastern CRC

Sapphire graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with a degree in Criminology and Sociology and finished her time on the Cyber PATH programme last year.

During my second year at university, I studied a cybercrime module and was fascinated – I felt like it really was my niche. A few months later, my lecturer, who is part of the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre Advisory Group, shared some information about Cyber PATH, and I was instantly intrigued.

“The whole experience in the programme was excellent. Throughout the application process, there was a real focus on it not being about showing what you know but showing how your mind works and your work ethic. I was slightly hesitant about applying as I didn’t have a cybersecurity background, but I felt supported from the moment I started.

“The team gave me so many opportunities to learn and grow, and I was really able to quickly bring myself up the learning curve from a technical perspective.”

A broad range of training is provided to ensure students have the skills and knowledge they need to deliver high-quality services to small and medium-sized enterprises.

“All students do mandatory training at the beginning of the programme, and then we receive specific training on each of the nine services they may be delivering to clients. Students and their development are made to feel very much like the priority, and the Cyber PATH supervisors are always there to lend their support.

“The leading service I provided was security awareness training to businesses – having both the knowledge and confidence to do this was a huge milestone for me. At university, I wouldn’t say I liked any sort of public speaking or presentation giving, so going from not being able to speak in front of peers I knew well to meeting new clients and delivering this training was fantastic. If you had told me at the outset I would be able to do that, I wouldn’t have believed you!

“Likewise, to receive such positive feedback from clients was amazing. It felt like I really made a difference.”

Sapphire saw Cyber PATH as a unique programme and encourages other university students interested in a career in cyber to apply.

“Cyber PATH is definitely an initiative that stood out to me. It felt fresh and new. I would encourage students to apply to the programme. It is an opportunity to be part of a brilliant work environment and be surrounded by people who want to invest in you – and will believe in you before you believe in yourself.”

Looking to the future, Sapphire wanted to continue advancing in the cyber industry, and the Cyber PATH programmes enabled her to do so.

“Through the opportunity, I realised that the cyber security field is where I wanted to stay. Having seen the positive impact of Cyber PATH first-hand, one of the things I would love to explore is becoming a Cyber PATH supervisor myself. I am also really interested in investigating cyber-enabled crimes, so I would like to learn more about the roles in that sphere.

“I am still very much at the beginning of my journey and want to keep growing and learning. I am excited to see where it takes me.”

Footnote: After graduating, Sapphire joined Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre, where she continues her cyber journey as a business development manager.