CAPSLOCK success: Leo's journey to L2 SOC Analyst

When Leo decided it was time to transition into cyber security, he already had an interest in the field - but no structured experience to help him take the next step. After hearing about CAPSLOCK from his brother, who works in cyber and had positive experiences with CAPSLOCK graduates, Leo chose to enrol on the Ce-CSP course and commit fully to a new career direction.

Why Leo chose CAPSLOCK

Leo had explored online resources before, but he knew he needed something more structured and hands‑on if he wanted to break into the industry. The recommendation from his brother gave him confidence that CAPSLOCK was the right fit, and he joined the programme with clear goals in mind.

What stood out during the programme

One of the biggest highlights for Leo was working in a team. Coming from a background where he mostly worked independently, he found the collaborative approach to be both new and valuable.

“You’ll never tackle a problem as a team from completely different backgrounds when learning alone. That was a massive highlight.”

The diversity of the cohort, in knowledge, skills, and previous experience, helped him learn from others while also contributing his own strengths.

He also emphasised how impactful the compliance modules and “Plum” enterprise project were. Before joining CAPSLOCK, he had little understanding of compliance obligations or how large organisations operate. The Plum experience gave him a practical view into enterprise‑level structures, processes, and communication flows.

And then there were the technical labs; something he relied on heavily.

“The labs were a godsend. I used them constantly, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.”

Starting a new career in cyber security

After graduating in December, Leo joined Nomios as a Level 2 SOC Analyst - a role with plenty of variety and responsibility. His day‑to‑day work includes managing security escalations, working with SIEM platforms, creating detection rules, and carrying out threat hunts.

It’s a hands‑on technical role, and the skills he built throughout the programme transferred directly into his work.

“Without those labs, I don’t think I’d be getting very far. They gave me the skills I use every day.”

How the Ce-CSP course helped

Moving from a smaller workspace into a large enterprise environment can be a big shift, but Leo felt prepared for it. The Plum project, in particular, gave him a realistic sense of how large companies function and how different departments collaborate - something he applies in his current job.

Summarising the experience

When describing his CAPSLOCK experience in one word, Leo chose valuable.

“You can do all sorts of cyber courses, but you won’t get what CAPSLOCK offers. The mix of backgrounds, the teamwork, the support from tutors - it’s a unique experience.”

He has already recommended the course to others, and his advice for anyone considering it is straightforward: stay persistent, use the available resources, and keep going through the job hunt.

“I probably wouldn’t have had this job without CAPSLOCK. It’s definitely worth it.”

Leo also shared a message for the CAPSLOCK team:

“It’s been life‑changing. I’m happy where I am, and it wouldn’t have happened without them.”

You can watch more of Leo's interview below.