Careers in cyber security
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the importance of cybersecurity and explain different career pathways into the field.
Key learning points
- Cybersecurity protects data, systems and people
- Cyber threats are real and constantly evolving
- Cybersecurity careers are in high demand
- There are many pathways into cybersecurity
Keywords
Career - the job or series of jobs that you do during your working life
Salary - a fixed amount of money agreed every year as pay for an employee
Pathway - a series of actions that can be taken in order to achieve something
Common misconception
Cybersecurity jobs are only for highly technical people who know how to code or hack.
Cybersecurity careers are diverse, and many roles value communication, analytical thinking, problem solving and ethical judgment just as much as technical skills.
Teacher tip
Encourage learners to explore and consider a variety of careers in cybersecurity. Get them to search through real jobs that have been recently posted on popular job posting websites.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is “fake news”?
Q2.Which of these is a common reason for spreading fake news?
Q3.How has the internet affected the spread of fake news?
Q4.Put these steps in order for fact checking a suspicious news story:
Q5.Match the term to its description:
untrue stories or hoaxes spread through media
incorrect information shared by mistake
false information created and shared to trick people
accurate and can be trusted
Q6.Why is it important to check more than one source when reading news online?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the main goal of cybersecurity?
Q2.Why are cybersecurity careers in high demand?
Q3.Put these steps in order for starting a career in cybersecurity:
Q4.Match the example to the correct cybersecurity career:
finds weaknesses in a company’s network
teaches staff about phishing and scams
writes rules for keeping data safe
Q5.Match the cybersecurity career to its main responsibility:
designs and builds secure systems
ensures laws and regulations are followed
monitors and investigates security incidents
Q6.Which statement about careers in cybersecurity is correct?
To help you plan your 11 computer science lesson on: Careers in cyber security, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 computer science lesson on: Careers in cyber security, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 computer science lessons from the Cyber threats and security unit, dive into the full secondary computer science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.