Security Analyst Review
at Barclays
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Cyber Security
London
Review Submitted: May 2024
Overall Rating
2.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
2/5
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Overview of Role
2/5
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Skills Development
2.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
2/5
Conducts intelligence investigations to understand, exploit and mitigate active and future threats to Barclays. Performs in-depth research into adversary tools, techniques, and procedures. Supports response to security incidents and provides insight to adversary hunting activities.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
2/5
Not a lot. It was very theoretical and not enough practical work, the learning content provided by QA was basic, and could easily have been sourced on google, youtube etc. My organisation could also have worked better with QA to ensure we work on rotation to give practical exposure.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
2/5
I largely manage projects, so I have honed my project management skills, along with my business analysis skills. Other soft skills such as stakeholder management, collaboration has also been honed. My technical knowledge has been neglected as my apprenticeship did not allow me to work on a rotational basis.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
1/5
For a programme spanning 15 months and working for an organisation that has multiple technical business units, there could have been more effort to provide some structure and ensure our technical modules are matched with us shadowing these technical teams to match theory and practical elements of our learning.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
We were crying out for exposure to our technical teams to get the relevant exposure to ensure we are not just learning theory, as our programme was Cyber Security Engineer. We were just left to 'get on with it' and had to rely on google and youtube for majority of our work.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
It felt like a tick box exercise and the DLCs (digital learning consultants) are just admin staff and were only concerned with ensuring module completion deadlines are met and could not offer and substantial advice whenever we had an issue. The monthly EPARC conversations were a waste of time as questions were always the same and never incremental.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
It has provided me with basic understanding of cyber security foundations.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Yes, my employer places huge emphasis on wellbeing, DEI, citizenship and affords us plenty opportunities to get involved in new things and experience new things.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Barclays to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is a great place to work, there is a huge emphasis on promoting from within and internal career mobility.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Barclays?
Bring your whole self to work, get involved, take advantage of opportunities and ensure you are visible in everything you do.
