Key Facts
Qualification purpose
Prepare for further learning or training and/or develop knowledge and/or skills in a subject area
Qualification Grading Type
Pass
Assessment Methods
Why choose this qualification?
Following a scheduled review of our Cybersecurity qualifications, positive updates will take effect from 1st August 2026.
These changes reflect the rapidly evolving digital threat landscape and the tools used to manage and prevent cyber risks. By refreshing unit aims and indicative content, the qualification better aligns with modern cybersecurity practices and current approaches to digital protection.
These updates support learners in developing strong foundational cybersecurity knowledge, alongside adaptability and critical thinking, helping them understand not only how cyber threats occur but also why they evolve. This prepares learners to engage confidently with cybersecurity concepts and supports progression in an increasingly complex digital world.
A Summary of Changes document and Qualification Specification for delivery from August 2026 are available to support your planning.
What this means for your Centre
- No immediate action is required
- You can begin reviewing the updates now to support lesson planning for the next academic year
- Further guidance and support will be shared ahead of implementation
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This single unit qualification is designed for learners to learn about cybercrime. They will understand routine protective methods used to maintain cybersecurity including the principles of vulnerability and penetration testing and user access control. While they can easily be offered as stand-alone bite-sized awards, the new qualifications could also be usefully combined with other units or qualifications into meaningful packages of learning.
The single unit within each qualification is also included within Digital and IT Skills qualifications.
The Level 1 Award in Cybersecurity was awarded Qualification of the Year at the 2024 Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Awards.