From master’s to mentee: breaking into cyber security with LeftBrain

At LeftBrain, we work with fast-moving, technically-minded teams who want a security partner that thinks like an engineer.

Delivering that kind of work takes a particular kind of practitioner: curious, hands-on, and able to operate inside agile teams rather than alongside them. That’s why we invest in growing talent through our mentorship programme, bringing people in who want to learn to do the work properly from day one.

We sat down with Sarah Hassan, who recently joined the InfoSec team as a cyber security mentee, to talk about her route in, what she’s working on, and where she’s heading next.

Sarah, what does the mentorship actually look like day to day?

“I’ve been sitting in with the security team, getting familiar with the internal systems and how they handle clients and security requirements. Yesterday I managed to analyse a phishing attack. I gave my findings to one of the team and the feedback was really positive and encouraging. I even asked for more of that kind of analytical work, so I can look into it and understand it better.”

Your background is in security already, right?

“My master’s was in information security and digital forensics. It covers areas like Cyber Essentials, network security, digital forensics, evidence handling, compliance and incident response. There’s quite a lot in there.”

“Joining LeftBrain is a very special experience for me. I have the theoretical side of things, and now I’m gaining the hands-on experience. Hopefully in the future this will be something I really get into.”

You’re also working towards a certification alongside the programme.

“I’m working towards my Security+. Having this mentorship will help me understand certain areas and pass my exams quickly. I’m setting an unrealistic time frame, but I’m definitely going for it. Hopefully by next month I’ll be certified, and that can open more doors for me.”

You’ve talked before about how hard it is to find opportunities like this. What’s your honest take on the cyber security industry for someone breaking in?

“To be totally honest with you, I’m not going to lie. It has been a struggle, and it’s still a struggle for people in the same position as me. Not just being a graduate, but transitioning from one industry to another. What you can find is self-directed: you can attend a bootcamp with maybe 100 people in it, take online courses, or literally study by yourself to get certified.”

“LeftBrain is different. They let someone like me experience the hands-on side and get the kind of experience I need. They help you succeed. They’ll teach you, they’ll guide you. There is this element where they care about what they’re doing.”

“Hopefully other companies can take this and offer people these kind of opportunities, because right now there is none. Literally, there is none.”

What are your hopes for the future?

“My target role is SOC analyst. I’m so driven to understand how attacks happen. I want to be the person at the forefront, protecting, monitoring, detecting, investigating, and being one of the first people on the incident response side.”

“Once I’ve mastered that, I’d want to move into threat intelligence, or maybe a security and compliance officer role, where I’m there to not just tick boxes but have an actual understanding, and help companies stay protected at all times.”

Thanks Sarah, and good luck with the rest of the programme.

“Thank you for having me.”

Why we run the LeftBrain mentorship

Our clients are agile, technical teams: CTOs and engineering leads who need a security partner that understands how they work. That standard doesn’t come from hiring alone; it comes from how we develop people. The mentorship programme is how we make sure the next wave of LeftBrain practitioners learn security the way our clients need it done: hands-on, risk-led, and built into the engineering culture rather than bolted on.