A POOLE cyber security company is calling for more women to enter the industry after taking on a third year university student.

Lucy Dalley is from the first intake of students to go through Bournemouth University’s cyber security management degree course, and she has now joined C3IA Solutions for a year as a junior consultant for 'cyber essentials', putting into practice what she has learned.

The firm's security director Matt Horan said the sector was traditionally male-dominated, but there is no reason why it should remain so.

"We are keen to take on more women and are encouraging them to enter the industry," he said.

"It is a relatively new sector and historically has been male-dominated, but with new university courses and greater awareness we hope the numbers will balance out in the future.

"It is not only something that younger students should consider, but also those looking to change career.

"We’re delighted that universities such as Bournemouth have started courses and are training people like Lucy.

"She is helping businesses achieve their cyber essentials certification and we’re giving her an introduction to all aspects of the business.

"We recently took Lucy on a Technical Surveillance Counter Measures job – known as bug sweeping.

"Cyber security is not just for the highly technical-minded, there are roles for all sorts of people."

Lucy, from Shirley in Southampton, said: "This is my third year on the BSc course in cyber security management and I’m getting a really good grounding at C3IA.

"It is great being on site and interesting doing the work for real and putting what I have learned into practice.

"I studied IT at college and cyber security really interested me, which is why I chose it for university.

"On my course there are far more men than women but I’d encourage everyone to look at cyber security as a career as it’s varied, interesting and there will be more jobs in it."

C3IA Solutions was among the first firms in the country to be certified by the National Cyber Security Centre.

It was set up in 2006 by Matt Horan and Keith Parsons and has 75 personnel on contract, headquartered in Ling Road.

The firm works in the defence and security sectors for government departments and within industry – serving both SMEs and multi-national firms.

Source: bournemouthcho