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.

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?

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 March 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.

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.

Cisco CCNA, CCNP, CCIE Certification Changes: What You Need to Know

IT giant, Cisco, has announced a massive restructuring to their portfolio starting 24^th February 2020. Here's an overview of what changes, and everything you need to know. 

Firebrand secures Fair Train Gold Standard

Firebrand Training is delighted to have been awarded the Fair Train Work Experience Quality Standard at Gold, the highest level. Fair Train is the UK’s leading expert in quality assurance of all forms of work-based learning. This prestigious award measures the quality of work-based training delivered by education and skills providers. Fair Train also accredits employers for the quality with which they provide and manage placements.

ISACA CISA Job Practice Update 2019

For the last 50 years, ISACA has established themselves as a reputable provider of IT certifications across the world. The CISA certification is recognised as one of their most sought after, successful endorsements, and has proven the most favourable way for security professionals to showcase their abilities and experience in the IT industry.

To remain relevant and ahead of the game, IT certifications need to be constantly updated and improved - so since June 2019, ISACA introduced a new CISA Job Practice.

Digital apprenticeships at Veolia – a fast track to success

Emma Wilcox hadn’t thought about doing an apprenticeship when she started working as a project assistant in Veolia’s Learning & Development Team. It was while working on a project about training needs analysis that she discovered how the company’s apprenticeship levy funds could be used to support all staff – both new hires and existing employees – to improve their skills in ways that would help the business grow.

BAE Systems launch vision to fight cyber fraud - The Intelligence Network

Better cyber hygiene is one of the key objectives highlighted in The Intelligence Network’s vision for tackling cyber fraud, launched this week.

As a corporate supporter of The Intelligence Network from BAE Systems, Firebrand's roster of elite cyber security instructors have helped contributed to- and shape this new report.

The Piggott School visit Firebrand Training

In 2018, GCHQ hosted a national cyber competition for young girls to encourage them to enter the IT industry. Firebrand are a proud provider of many GCHQ Accredited courses, but that's not the only reason intrigue was manifested. The winners of the CyberFirst Girls Competition were from The Piggott School – the same secondary school Firebrand Training co-founder, Rob Chapman.

It was at The Piggott School where Rob’s passion for IT started, and because of the exceptional computer science department at the school, he was able to explore and learn so much more about it: “I can’t tell you today why I went to the computer club, but a proper light bulb went off in my brain. That was the point when I started to learn to program. I love computer programming.”

Simplyhealth – How to recruit the best possible candidates for digital apprenticeships

The vicious circle of digital recruitment is well-known by just about every business – too few skilled, experienced individuals for the number of positions on offer. Even when recruiting for individuals with no previous experience, it can be difficult to attract candidates with a relevant background. 

So how do you tease out non-traditional candidates’ aptitude for digital roles and get the motivated, skilled digital people you want, particularly when you’re not a tech giant or even in the tech industry?

ISACA Switch To Continuous Testing - How To Schedule Your Exam

Engaging with nearly half a million professionals across approximately 200 countries, ISACA has spent 50 years developing a reputation as one of the most respected international bodies in IT and Information Systems.

CISA vs CISM - How Do I Choose?

The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) offered by ISACA are both highly regarded Information Security certifications. However, that’s where the similarities end. The 2 courses boast largely different content, testing different aspects of information security which lead to different IT careers.

CCSP or CISSP Certification - Which Is Better?

CISSP and CCSP certifications go hand in hand and often there is confusion between the two. Although both are founded by non-profit organisation, (ISC)², both are IT courses and both concern cyber security, there are several differences between the two that will take you on different career paths.

The following is an in-depth exploration of the two certifications to help you decide which one is best for you.

Top 5 CCNP Books for Exam Revision in 2019

[This post has been updated for 2019]

The CCNP: Routing and Switching is an intermediate-level certification that builds the knowledge and skills you gained on the CCNA: Routing and Switching.

Directed at network and system administrators planning and implementing Cisco’s high-end network solutions, the CCNP provides a more in-depth understanding of WAN/LAN and how they work. Achieve the CCNP and you could be on track for an average contractor salary of £96,400 according to CW Jobs.

The 5 Best CEH Certification Books For 2019

Updated: this article was updated for 2019

Cyber attacks are now among the top threats to businesses and consumers globally. The BBC accounted more than half of British firms have reported cyber attacks in 2019 already. The need for professionals with the Certified Ethical Hacker certification (CEH) is rapidly increasing, but achieving this qualification requires skill and determination.

10 Best Six Sigma Books For 2019

[This post has been updated for 2019]

Six Sigma is a data-driven approach to eliminate defects in any business process. From application development to manufacturing, the right implementation of Six Sigma can help you to improve processes by finding and removing the causes of errors.

Guide to: The Microsoft Modern Desktop Administrator Associate

2019 has proven to be an incredibly exciting year for Microsoft - they have been producing job-specific certifications that have already established themselves as the most in-demand qualifications by businesses. The Microsoft 365 Certified Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification falls into this category.

The certification teaches you to deploy, configure, secure, manage, and monitor devices and client applications in an IT enterprise environment. As a desktop administrator, you are responsible for managing the workstation deployment processes and technologies essential to an effective enterprise IT solution.

System deployment involves installation and configuration, maintenance and security of devices and applications - each of these skills are tested in this new role-based certification.

What is a role-based certification? 

The Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification was developed using Job Task Analysis. This new form of course creation was designed so that certifications now qualify professionals for specific roles. How it works is the position is broken down into specific features, these features are then identified and tailored into the certification.

You can therefore rest assured that this new Microsoft certification has been designed to equip you with the full range of skills and knowledge necessary for a successful Modern Desktop Administrator.

Why should I get certified?

As stated above, Microsoft have listened to IT professionals and the business have shifted their focus from solely technical product knowledge to a skills-based certification customised around specific job roles.

The areas covered by the certification are:

• Deploy Windows
• Manage devices and data
• Configure connectivity
• Maintain Windows
• Deploy and update operating systems
• Manage policies and profiles
• Manage and protect devices
• Manage apps and data

With more businesses adopting universal IT systems, the demand for skilled administrators is higher than ever. You'll perform installation, configuration, general local management and maintenance of Windows 10 core services.

The credibility of a Microsoft certification is invaluable – it is highly likely that with this certification, you will experience a boost to you career prospects and average salary.

What are the prerequisites?

To become a certified Modern Desktop Administrator, you must be familiar with M365 workloads and have experience of deploying, configuring, and maintaining Windows 10 and non-Windows devices.

You should also be familiar with enterprise scenarios and cloud-integrated services.

If you’ve already passed Exam 70-698: Configuring Windows 10, you only need to sit the MD-101 to earn this new certification.

You should have already completed and passed the MD-100 and MD-101 exams – Firebrand offer both of these exams as a part of all-inclusive courses.  

How do I get certified?

If you’re an IT technician looking to progress your career and certify your skills as a Desktop Administrator, then the Modern Desktop Administrator certification is ideal for you.

Through Firebrand Training, you'll learn from certified instructors, official courseware, labs and sit your exam during this accelerated all-inclusive course  allowing you to leave certified, fast.

The Free Training for Life Winner of 2019 is…

Every year someone wins the opportunity of a lifetime - unlimited free access to over 700 accelerated training courses. This year thousands of professionals entered across 14 countries, from IT technicians to expert penetration testers, in the hope to become 2019’s Free Training for Life (FTFL) winner.

Here's Why You Want to Become a Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert teaches you the skills you need to design solutions that

run on Microsoft Azure.

With Azure identified as one of the fastest growing cloud providers - 85% of the Fortune 500 companies have confirmed they already use Azure - as the problem solver, this certification is one of the most in-demand certifications at the moment.

Become a Microsoft 365 Certified Enterprise Administrator Expert

The Modern Workplace with Microsoft 365 is a space where businesses have the opportunity to develop themselves. This includes inspiring their employees, being creative with customer services and operations – essentially adopting and adapting the business’ progression models.

Microsoft Enterprise Administrator Expert is based on the Modern Workplace. It consists of planning, migrating, evaluating, managing and deploying Microsoft 365 services.

Discover 2019's Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate

In early 2018, Microsoft announced a huge restructuring to their certifications. This came about as a reaction to the growing demand for more job-specific certifications. The Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate is 1 of the 6 new role-based certifications that represent a new generation of Microsoft learning.

Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate - Everything You Need to Know

The cloud computing market is forecast to hit a whopping $411 billion by 2020, according to new research by CenturyLink and Statista. This progress has resulted in a huge increase in demand for qualified cloud administrators that’s only going to grow.

Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate certification was developed using advanced Job Task Analysis – this means you’ll learn the skills and knowledge relevant to becoming a successful Azure Administrator.

Firebrand Launch Support for BAE Systems' Intelligence Network

Firebrand has just announced corporate support for BAE Systems’ Intelligence Network, a growing community of cyber and financial crime professionals and industry figures.

Introducing the Updated HCISPP for 2019

The HealthCare Information Security Protection Practitioner (HCISPP) is the most respected certification that teaches you how best to protect healthcare organisations and sensitive data against potential threats.

Healthcare IT is a growing domain within the IT industry. With the HCISPP, you’ll gain the expertise to protect sensitive healthcare information, improve patient quality of care by recognising the risks and potential consequences of exposed data - all using the proper techniques.

The Complete Guide to AXELOS' ITIL 4 Certification

For the last 30 years, AXELOS’ IT Information Library (ITIL) has been recognised as the world’s leading best practice framework for IT management, used by millions of professionals globally.

The ITIL 4 Foundation certification was launched on the 28th of February 2019, AXELOS’ first update in over 10 years. Margo Leach, Chief Product Officer at AXELOS, said, “There is a lot of excitement… The feedback we have had so far has been extremely positive.”

Here’s a quick look at the most important changes introduced in ITIL 4:

The new CCSP for 2019 - Domain Refresh

(ISC)² introduced the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification in 2015 to address the growing need for highly skilled cloud security professionals. It’s a globally recognised way of proving your expertise in securing cloud infrastructure and ranked 5th in the Certification Magazine’s 2019 Salary Survey.

The CCSP’s first update has been announced for August 1st 2019. 

ECIH v2 released by EC-Council (Certified Incident Handler)

EC-Council’s Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) is one of the most globally respected incident handling certifications. It covers how to prepare for, manage and recover from a wide range of incident threats to an organisation.

On the 15th of February EC-Council released ECIH Version 2 (v2). As a top EC-Council partner, Firebrand had the chance to preview the new certification.

Here’s a quick look at the changes introduced in the ECIH v2:

Firebrand trains 1000th digital apprentice to achieve accreditation by the British Computer Society (BCS)

Hannah Surry, a Level 3 Software Development Technician apprentice working for Lloyds Banking Group, became the 1000th apprentice to be accredited by the BCS in December. 

Top 10 Cloud Certifications of 2019

[Refer to the following blog for the Top 10 Cloud Certifications of 2021] 

Migrating to the cloud increases business revenue by 40% on average (Silver Lining).

Top 10 IT Certifications of 2019

The IT industry is predicted to keep growing in 2019 - as cloud, data protection and cyber security are now vital for all businesses.