An up-coming cyber-star has urged more girls to take her career path after she gained a full-time job with leading cyber-security company C3IA Solutions.
Hannah Baverstock, who completed a placement with the Dorset company last year, has now finished her Master’s degree in Computer Science and Information Security.
It all began when she became interested in the subject after playing the computer game Watch Dogs, which includes hackers fighting over operating systems.
Hannah is now a Junior Consultant at the Poole-headquartered company, working on cyber-security and information assurance.
She works across public and private sector clients and is keen to visit schools to give cyber and careers advice.
Cyber is a fast-growing sector that is male-dominated and there is a desire to encourage more youngsters to take it up.
Hannah, from Broadstone near Poole, said: “Having finished my degree it really is exciting to join one of the most respected cyber-security companies in the country.
“I know from my university course at Royal Holloway that it is still a very male-dominated sector, but that is beginning to change.
“Whilst cyber can be extremely technical and complex, there are also many other areas that you could train for to have a career in cyber; it is wide-ranging and offers many different opportunities.
“The sector continues to grow and more and more jobs are becoming available. It is also satisfying to help businesses and organisations protect themselves against attack.”
Jim Hawkins, from the company, said: “Hannah really impressed us during her placement last year.
“She brings a different perspective that is really important to us as a growing cyber security business.
“The business is expanding quickly and we now have more than 130 employees working across the UK and abroad.”