What I do

I am a security tower lead for one of our major clients which means that I run a team that works on compliance and audits, as well as a team that works on vulnerabilities – preventing things like hackings and cyber-attacks.

Hear more about Holly's role by watching the video below...

How I became a technician

I studied geography, history, world development and ICT. I didn’t think I would go down the ICT route at all. I finished my ICT A-level early and realised I flourished in that area and decided to explore it further. I did an online search for apprenticeships as I didn’t feel university was a good fit for me. There are hundreds of apprenticeships now. I loved the idea of learning and doing a job at the same time.

I started a technical apprenticeship at 18. I was going to go to university to do a Geography degree but changed my mind. I did some research into apprenticeships and found the IBM one – technical consulting apprenticeship. I went through that process and started out as a Coder and Tester. I then went into the service management space - managing service desks and problems. I found that I loved it and the people within it.

I then moved into security when I came over to Kyndryl and started the management apprenticeship. As brilliant as all technology is, it can only ever be as good as the people behind it. That is where I found I could be of most use.

My current apprenticeship is a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) with Winchester University. When I did my first apprenticeship we had no day release, it was all learning on the job. My degree apprenticeship is much more theory based. I have one day out a week to go to university and study. They have been on two very different styles of apprenticeship but I have enjoyed them both.

A typical day in my
working life

I like to start my morning by looking at what vulnerabilities are out there and where we might be at risk. I then work with global teams and look at the projects they are doing or any ongoing issues we might have.

In the afternoon I try to meet with clients and work on the reporting elements. I do a lot of reporting to our clients - presentation decks for example - to bring in areas of improvement and referring to experts so that they can gain knowledge on where they can improve their security and resilience.

I am on-call quite often. The main focus is eight until six. In the evenings, I like to try to clear my emails and prepare for the next day. You want to stay on top of things because you never know what is coming the next day.

What I love most about my job

It is a really interesting role and no day is predictable. I have had a few cyber-attacks to deal with. It is a brilliant example of bringing technology and people together as you all work so hard to combat the attack as a team. You bring in expertise from around the world and it really boosts morale.

Find out more about this role

Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.

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