Firebrand Apprenticeships | Coronavirus updates

Read on for the most up-to-date information on Firebrand Apprenticeships for apprentices and employers during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Introducing Online Instructor-Led Training | Firebrand OIL

Please head to this page for more information.

At Firebrand, we are committed to helping you achieve your certification as fast as possible, and we’re determined to keep this promise throughout these difficult times. In an effort to accommodate students who are presently unable to attend classes, we are offering an online alternative for attending courses during this period. One way or another, we’ll get you certified.

Coronavirus | Updates and Actions

UPDATE: 23 MARCH. Read on for the most up-to-date information on Firebrand’s operations and actions during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Cybersecurity and coronavirus: keeping your business safe

by Philip Blake

Measures to mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to an unprecedented increase in remote working across the board. Our guest author Philip Blake, European Regional Director at EC-Council and cybersecurity expert, outlines key challenges and tips for staying secure while away from the office.

Scrum vs Six Sigma: which one is right for you?

by Thiago Earp


If you can’t decide whether to use Agile Scrum or Lean Six Sigma for your next project, we’re here to help. This article compares both methods to help you settle the debate.

10 Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2020

by Firebrand Training

Discover the 10 best cybersecurity certifications in 2020 and how they can help you advance your career and upskill for the digital economy.

What are Azure Blueprints (and how can they help with compliance)?

by Mike Brown

In this Firebrand Q&A video, Mike Brown, cloud expert and instructor at Firebrand, explains what are Azure Blueprints and how they can help with compliance.

Microsoft MCSA, MCSD, MCSE certifications now to retire in January 2021

by Firebrand Training


UPDATE March 26, 2020: The retirement date for MCSA, MCSD and MCSE exams has been pushed to January 31, 2021. The change gives students an extra six months to achieve certifications. 

Dozens of Microsoft certifications were due to retire on June 30, 2020. The retirement of MCSA, MCSD and MCSE is a move towards role-based certifications. Here's what it means.

Best Microsoft Business Apps in 2020

by Firebrand Training

Microsoft is an enterprise applications titan. But beyond the time-tested Windows OS and Office suite, their tool offerings grow so fast it may be hard to keep up. We compiled a list with the top Microsoft apps that will help you grow your business in 2020. 

Top Cloud Computing Jobs by Salary 2020

by Alex Bennett

Companies across the board increasingly rely on cloud services. With great demand, comes great profitability, as we show in this list of top cloud jobs by salary.

What Is the Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship Standard?

by Ben Hansford

Launched in 2019, the Digital Support Technician Apprenticeship Standard was created to accelerate technology adoption into the workforce. But how does it work?

Top 10 Cloud Certifications for 2020

by Alex Bennett

Which certifications will get you those coveted high-paying jobs in the cloud computing industry? Here’s our list of cloud certifications on the rise in 2020.

State of the cloud: a look at cloud computing in 2020

by Mike Brown

From overcoming security challenges to integrating edge computing into the cloud, to data detectives, here’s what’s in store for cloud computing in 2020.

New tech hubs in Europe: best cities for IT jobs

by Gillian Seely

Where IT is concerned, the biggest city doesn’t always equate to the highest concentration of innovation or the best job scene. The best cities for tech jobs in Europe can surprise you. Here’s how digital jobs are changing Europe’s landscape.

8 Tips to Save Money in Azure

by Mike Brown

Does cloud computing help you save costs? In most cases, the answer is a resounding yes. But going cloud is just step one. Here’s how you can save costs in Microsoft Azure.

Cyber security skills gap reaches all-time high

In recent years, the cyber security job market has successively broken its own records for growth. In 2019 it has again outdone itself with an estimated four million unfulfilled jobs. In this post, guest author Chris Green shares the highlights of (ISC)²'s 2019 cyber security workforce research.

What do Ofsted reports mean?

by Stefano Capaldo

All educational institutions in England must go through an inspection by Ofsted to have their quality assessed. This includes all publicly funded training and apprenticeship programmes. But who are Ofsted, and what do Ofsted ratings say about training providers?

12 free TOGAF exam study resources

UPDATED Feb/2020 - Passing a TOGAF exam opens doors to one of the most in-demand jobs today. In this post, we point you to the best free resources to ace the test and get your certification ASAP.

How to mind the cybersecurity skills gap

by Stefano Capaldo

From physical setup to protocol design, cybersecurity ultimately relies on people. However, bridging the skills gap in security can be hard and costly for organisations as they go digital. This article makes the case for a security-first culture – and how to get one started on your company. 

Have I been hacked? How to detect and react to cyber-attacks

by Phil Chapman

Cyber threats come in all shapes and forms, and it’s not always obvious that you’ve been compromised. In this post we highlight where and what to look for, and how to detect and react to the most common cyber-attacks in 2019.

What is Hacktivism?

The notion of hackers with a political message has taken the internet by storm in the recent decade. Check out notable examples of hacktivism in our article.

5 tips for Microsoft certification exams

Microsoft is the most valuable company in the world, and being a certified Microsoft professional no doubt reflects this value. Here we give you a few tips to help you pass Microsoft certification exams.

After more than 40 years at the forefront of the computing industry, the tech giant doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Microsoft retire SATV Programme (Software Assurance Testing Vouchers)

Starting 1st February 2020, Microsoft will begin to retire the SATV (Software Assurance Training Voucher) programme.

The 5 Best CCNA Books for Exam Revision in 2019

[Updated September 2019: This list of the best CCNA books now includes video and web resources]

The CCNA has distinguished itself as a rite of passage for thousands of networking professionals across the globe. Achieve the CCNA certification and you’ll be on track for a rewarding career in networking and an average salary of over £60,000, which ties it to CEH in the 10th spot of the highest paying cyber security certifications this year.

Firebrand Apprenticeships welcomes new Managing Director

Ben Hansford has joined Firebrand Training as Managing Director of its Apprenticeships division.

4 Reasons to choose official (ISC)² training

There is more than one path to get certified, and several myths around which form of training is the right one – official or unofficial. In this article, we explain the reasons why you should go for official (ISC)² training.

10 Highest paying cyber security certifications in 2019

Demand for cyber security professionals has been soaring for a while now, with certified professionals landing some of the highest paying jobs in the IT industry. This is largely due to an increasingly digitised and interconnected world, as businesses across the board migrate their data and processes to the cloud.

In today’s world, keeping sensitive data secure from prying eyes and cyber-attacks can mean the difference between leading the market, and bankruptcy.

Top 10 Project Management Courses 2019

The days of intuitive and trial-and-error project management are over, says senior project management instructor Fatollah Youssefifar. If you don’t have access to a proven methodology, you risk extremely damaging consequences for your organisation and careers.

How to Choose the Right ISO Certification & Course in 2019

Whether you’re looking to become a qualified auditor, implementer or manager in the world of ISO standards, are you confident you’re choosing the right ISO certification and course?

Announcement: EC-Council Masterclass comes to London with Firebrand as Strategic Partner

The EC-Council Masterclass Series will be arriving in London in September 2019, with Firebrand Training as the UK’s only strategic partner.