Fully funded cybersecurity courses now available for Irish SMEs and companies
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, three 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.
Three online cybersecurity courses to choose from
The three 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
Strategic Threat Intelligence & Incident Leadership
Lead with confidence during high-pressure cyber incidents.
Designed for managers, senior leaders, and professionals across non-technical roles, this 10-week online micro-credential develops leadership capability in strategic threat intelligence, crisis communication, and incident response coordination.
Participants will learn how to interpret threat data, guide decision-making during ransomware events, integrate AI-supported analysis responsibly, and plan for evolving challenges such as post-quantum security transitions.
The course is particularly relevant for professionals who may be involved in cyber incident response, organisational resilience, communication during crises, or strategic decision-making during high-pressure security events.
Who is it for?
This course is ideal for managers, senior leaders, business professionals, and non-technical decision-makers who want to strengthen their ability to lead, communicate, and coordinate effectively during cyber incidents.
Course dates
24 August – 2 November
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 ensuring that leaders are prepared to respond calmly and effectively when incidents occur.
These courses provide an opportunity for Irish SMEs and companies to strengthen internal knowledge, confidence, and resilience 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, management, and senior leadership roles.
Find out more and apply through ATU
Foundational Cybersecurity Awareness & Practices
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