Cybersecurity & AI Graduate Programme
Cybersecurity & AI Graduate Programme launching December 2026
Cybersecurity & AI Graduate Programme
Launch your cybersecurity and consulting career with Ekco.
At Ekco, we believe great careers are built on the right opportunities at the right time. Following the success of our inaugural Graduate Cybersecurity Programme, we are excited to be launching our second programme in Ireland, designed to give you real exposure across seven key pillars: AI Automation, GRC, Security Architecture, Threat Detection & Response, Cyber Resiliency, Security Engineering and Pen Testing.
We are one of Europe’s fastest growing cloud and cybersecurity specialists, trusted to protect organisations against the threats of today and tomorrow. Now we are opening the door to the next generation of cybersecurity talent, giving you the tools, mentorship, and experience to thrive.
Our 2027 graduate programme will be our biggest yet, taking us close to the ambition we set last year to double our graduate intake. And we are looking for more than technical skill. We want to bring together graduates from Computer Science, Cybersecurity and IT, alongside those from Business, Management and Information Systems. The strongest teams combine technical expertise with commercial thinking and great people skills. We are looking for graduates who can develop deep technical capability while also building the confidence to understand customers, solve real business problems and communicate their ideas clearly.
Shape the future of cybersecurity with Ekco
At Ekco, you will start your career surrounded by more than 200 security experts, including over 100 specialists within our Professional Services team. From our Dublin HQ at 6-8 College Green, right in the heart of the city, you will have the opportunity to learn from experienced people while working on projects for some of Ireland’s largest organisations.
Our clients span fintech, construction, the public sector, healthcare and retail, giving you exposure to different industries, challenges and technologies. The work you do will have real impact, helping organisations strengthen their defences against real-world cyber threats.
You will work on real cybersecurity challenges, alongside experienced specialists, building the technical, commercial and customer skills that will shape your career.
At a glance
Location: 6-8 College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland, with major client site exposure included
Contract: 12 month fixed term
Start date: February 2027
Places: 9 graduate placements
Assessment Day (interviews): 3 December 2026 in Dublin
Programme Ambassador & Mentor: Declan Timmons, Managing Director, Professional Services (weekly cohort coaching)
Why join Ekco?
Make an impact straight away
The work you do will not sit on the sidelines. From day one, you will be helping to protect real businesses from real cyber threats.
Learn fast, grow faster
With structured training, mentorship, and access to industry recognised certifications, you will quickly turn theory into practice. You will also have a dedicated mentor to guide you through the journey.
Work with cutting edge tech
Get hands-on with the latest cloud-native security solutions and tools while learning how to apply them in real-world scenarios.
Be part of a supportive culture
We are a people-first business. At Ekco, questions are encouraged, learning is continuous, and teamwork is at the heart of everything we do.
Build customer-facing and business skills
Cybersecurity at Ekco is a customer service as much as a technical one. You will join client meetings, learn to run business analysis and service delivery activities, and develop the project management and communication skills to build trusted customer relationships, including writing and presenting Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).
Shape your future
This is just the beginning. Whether you see yourself as a Pen Tester, Security Engineer, GRC Specialist, Security Architect, Business Analyst, Service Delivery Manager or Project Manager, there are clear pathways for you to grow and specialise.
Your 12 month journey
Foundations Bootcamp (Weeks 1–2)
- Ekco ways of working and consulting fundamentals
- Cyber mindset, secure by design, client communication & report writing
- Cloud & identity basics, networking refresh, hands on labs
- Customer-facing skills: presenting to clients, running meetings, service delivery and project management essentials
- Kick off with Declan Timmons and Graduate Coordinator Thomas Crean: Expectations, career pathways, and what ‘good’ looks like
Discover and find your pillar (early weeks)
Rather than a fixed rotation, your first weeks are about exploration. You’ll work alongside our teams, and what you see and enjoy, together with mentor and leadership input, will determine the pillar where you are placed.
Placement, growth and capstone (to month 12)
Once placed, you’re embedded in your team as a Security Analyst, with a dedicated mentor, clear outcomes and onsite working for the first few months. You’ll also deliver a team capstone project focused on AI in cybersecurity, for example an AI-assisted triage workflow built in Tines or a secure-by-design blueprint for an AI-enabled system.
Where you could be placed
Security Testing: Penetration testing to find vulnerabilities and risk, plus social engineering, red teaming and testing of AI-enabled systems.
Cloud Security & Architecture: Security design and architecture on-prem and in multi-cloud environments, with security by design principles.
Managed Security (MSSP): Real-time monitoring and defence of people, data and infrastructure in our Security Operations Centre, including detection, triage and incident handling.
AI & Automation (Tines): Our AI and automation teams, building Tines workflows that speed up detection, response and security operations.
Governance, Risk & Compliance: Control testing, risk treatment and client advisory (ISO 27001/NIST), including AI governance.
Security Engineering: Implementing and optimising security controls and technologies, applying AI and automation to a complex threat landscape.
Alongside every rotation: developing customer and business skills
Throughout the programme you will shadow customer calls and workshops, support service delivery and project management activities, and use business analysis skills to turn technical findings into clear recommendations. You will contribute to real Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), covering service performance, risk and value delivered, and build towards presenting one yourself.
Mentoring that makes the difference
- Weekly group mentoring with Programme Ambassador Declan Timmons, plus optional 1:1 coaching
- Mentoring from our exceptional 2026 graduates, who have been through the programme and know what it takes
- Day-to-day support from Graduate Coordinator Thomas Crean, one of our 2026 graduates, plus a team mentor and buddy
- Monthly expert masterclasses from internal SMEs and invited thought leaders, with a strong focus on AI in cybersecurity
Certifications & study time
- Protected study sprints each rotation
- Curated paths: Microsoft Fundamentals, Security+, Sentinel/SC 200 (Detection), ISO 27001 Foundations (GRC); PNPT/OSCP as stretch goals (Offensive)
- Business and delivery skills: ITIL 4 Foundation, project management fundamentals (e.g. PRINCE2 or APM) and business analysis training
- Certification plan tailored to strengths and destination role
Capstone & final placement
- Team capstone (e.g., detection as code pack, secure by design blueprint, or a customer QBR and service improvement plan)
- Final placement
Who should apply?
- Education: Degree (or equivalent) in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Security or related technical fields, or in Business, Management, Information Systems or related business disciplines.
- Foundations: Technical graduates, basic networking/OS/cloud and awareness of malware, phishing, vulnerabilities and risk. Business graduates, a genuine interest in technology and cybersecurity and the drive to learn it
- Mindset: Curious, adaptable, accountable; strong problem solving and teamwork
- Customer and business focus: Confidence and enthusiasm for working in front of customers, with an interest in business analysis, service delivery and project management
- Communication: Clear writing and presenting, and the ability to explain technical topics in plain English, including to non-technical audiences and senior stakeholders
- Nice to haves: Exposure to Microsoft/AWS/Azure; familiarity with SIEM/EDR/firewalls/vulnerability scanners; labs, projects, or early career certs (Security+, CCNA, Microsoft Fundamentals); customer-facing, part-time or project experience; exposure to business analysis, reporting or project coordination
Hiring Process & dates
- Online application (CV + short note on why security excites you)
- HR conversation (values & motivation)
- Online technical screen (fundamentals)
- Assessment Day — 3 December 2026 (Dublin): presentations from our Cyber practice leaders, technical deep dives, consulting/ communication interview, a customer scenario exercise (e.g. a mini business analysis or QBR task), mini labs
Following Assessment Day, offers will be shared quickly, and you will begin your journey with Bootcamp Week 1 in February 2027.
Come As You Are
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. If you need adjustments during the process, tell us and our team will support you.
