Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. For organisations of every size, it is now a core business risk, affecting operations, finance, compliance, customer trust, and long-term resilience.Many Irish SMEs and companies need practical, accessible ways to build cybersecurity knowledge across their teams. Staff need to recognise everyday cyber threats, managers need to understand and prioritise cyber risks, and organisations need to be better prepared for an increasingly complex digital environment.Through the Digital4Security project, co-funded by the European Union, two fully funded postgraduate cybersecurity courses are now available for professionals working in Irish SMEs and companies. The courses are delivered online by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) on behalf of Skillnet Ireland and are designed to support real working environments.
Applications are now open, with places prioritised for professionals working in Irish SMEs.
Two online cybersecurity courses to choose from
The two courses are designed for different levels of experience and responsibility, allowing organisations to choose the pathway that best fits their team’s needs.
Foundational Cybersecurity Awareness & Practices
Build practical cyber confidence, no technical background needed.
This course is designed for professionals in management, administration, finance, HR, operations, compliance, and general business roles who want to better understand everyday cyber risks and adopt safer digital behaviours.
Participants will learn how to recognise common cyber threats such as phishing and fraud, use AI tools safely, develop secure working habits, and prepare for future cybersecurity challenges, including post-quantum security changes.
It offers a practical, accessible pathway to stronger cybersecurity awareness across an organisation, with no technical background required.
Who is it for?
This course is ideal for non-technical staff and business professionals who want to improve their confidence in recognising and responding to everyday cyber risks.
Course dates: 15 June – 17 August or 24 August – 02 November
Cybersecurity Risk Management for Managers & IT Leads
Turn cyber risk into informed, structured decision-making.
This course supports managers, supervisors, IT leads, operations staff, and compliance professionals in learning how to identify, assess, and prioritise cybersecurity risks using widely recognised frameworks such as ISO 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
Over 10 weeks online, participants will build a cyber risk register, create a realistic treatment roadmap, and explore key topics including AI-enabled monitoring, supplier risk, ransomware resilience, and post-quantum considerations.
The course is particularly relevant for professionals involved in organisational governance, resilience, compliance, risk management, and responsible cyber decision-making.
Who is it for?
This course is ideal for managers, IT leads, compliance-focused staff, operations professionals, and anyone responsible for shaping cyber risk and resilience within their organisation.
Course dates : 15 June – 17 August
Why this matters for Irish businesses
Cyber threats are evolving quickly, and SMEs are not immune. In fact, smaller organisations often face the same risks as larger companies, but with fewer internal resources to manage them.
Building cybersecurity capacity does not always mean hiring a large specialist team. It can start with helping staff understand safer digital behaviours, supporting managers to make informed decisions, and embedding cyber resilience into everyday business practice.
These courses provide an opportunity for Irish SMEs and companies to strengthen internal knowledge and confidence without the cost of commercial training.
Apply by 1 June for June-start courses
Places are limited, and professionals working in Irish SMEs will be prioritised for places.
Applications for the June-start courses close on 1 June.
Businesses are encouraged to share this opportunity with relevant team members, including staff in HR, finance, administration, operations, compliance, IT, and management roles.
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