Hairkal Juhair has had a varied path: F&B, then back to school to study law, and now a security operations centre analyst at a Singapore cybersecurity firm. What drew him to the field was its sheer breadth and durability.
“Tech in general is an evergreen industry, and there are vast areas to explore. One of them is cybersecurity, especially pen testing and the defensive side, the SOC. Every company needs a way to protect itself from cyber threats.”
He came in looking for something that would stretch him, and give him the fundamentals to build on.
“I was looking for an environment that would challenge my capabilities and knowledge, and help me build the basic fundamentals in cybersecurity.”
A curriculum built around the real job
What Hairkal valued was how closely the training mapped to actual work, and how approachable the trainers were.
“CFCI’s curriculum is very comprehensive. It’s more about the use cases you do in your day-to-day real job, especially with the scenarios CFCI uses to test your skills.”
He singles out the access to the people teaching it.
“You’re able to go back and have casual discussions with the instructors. We’ve eaten with James. They’re very open and very knowledgeable.”
What he would say to someone considering it
Hairkal’s recommendation is short and direct.
“If you’re thinking about it as a career path, it’s a good direction. I was previously in F&B, then I studied law, and now I’m in cybersecurity. It’s a good prospect. Come in, go for it.”
If Hairkal’s story resonates, our full guide to switching into cybersecurity in Singapore walks through exactly what that transition looks like — regardless of your starting background.
If that is where your head is, the lowest-risk first step is a free info session and the free experiential workshop. The flagship Career Kickstart programme then builds those fundamentals from the ground up, with funding up to 90% through SkillsFuture.
80% of graduates who completed the full programme and career services secured cybersecurity employment (as of early 2026). If you want to understand the most common first role, read our guide to a day in the life of a SOC analyst.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is cybersecurity considered a stable, long-term career in Singapore?
Every organisation needs to protect itself from cyber threats, so the demand for security skills does not depend on any single industry. That breadth, across finance, government, healthcare and tech, is why many people describe cybersecurity as an evergreen field with room to specialise over time.
What should you look for in a cybersecurity training programme?
Look for hands-on, scenario-based practice over pure theory, a curriculum built around real day-to-day use cases, and trainers you can actually talk to. Approachable instructors and realistic scenarios are what bridge the gap between learning and doing the job.