eSentire Introduces the Sean Hennessy Bursary to Help Address the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

In recent years, we have seen a detrimental rise in cyber threats, but there is a significant lack of career development and training opportunities for those interested in shaping the cybersecurity industry of tomorrow. In fact, the 2020 Cybersecurity Workforce Study conducted by (ISC)², suggests that employment in the cybersecurity field needs to grow by approximately 89% worldwide to fill the present cybersecurity skills gap.

eSentire has a strong commitment to cybersecurity skills development in the South-West region of Ireland. The training and experience received by our Security Analysts on the front lines of Cyber Defence, working with best-of-breed technologies, is unparalleled. With the largest Security Operations Centre in the region, we have contributed considerably to the wider development of the area as a centre of excellence for cybersecurity.

To further our commitment to addressing the skills shortage, eSentire is proud to partner with Munster Technological University (MTU) to introduce the Sean Hennessy Bursary, which provides the award recipient with financial aid that can be applied towards their second, third, and fourth year at MTU.

We are especially honoured to be naming this program ‘The Sean Hennessy Bursary’.

Sean was instrumental in building the original eSentire Cork SOC team from 2015 to 2016 and helped recruit many of the Cork employees. Prior to eSentire, Sean served with the Irish Defence Forces for about 20 years in their ICT Division and even recruited some experts from the Forces over to eSentire. He had an immense passion for training and education paired with a deep interest in all areas of cybersecurity and so, it is very fitting that his program be named in his memory. A heartfelt thank you to the Hennessy family for their support in doing so.

To award the bursary, Seán McSweeney, the Head of the Department of Computer Science at MTU, selects the top five first-year students who have demonstrated a keen aptitude and interest in the field of cybersecurity.

Members of the eSentire team in Cork then interview the five potential candidates, during which the candidates participate in a basic technical assessment as part of the selection criteria. The final winner of the bursary is selected based on the results of the technical assessment, the interviews, and a review of their transcripts.

In addition to receiving €1,500 of aid per annum over their remaining three years at MTU, the recipient will also get the chance to participate in a nine-month internship with eSentire throughout their third year leading into a part time role with the firm for their fourth year.

We’re thrilled to announce that the first recipient of the Sean Hennessy Bursary is Shatrunjaya Gemawat, an IT Management student at MTU!

Pictured Left to Right: Professor Donna O’Shea, Chair of Cybersecurity at MTU, Shane Twohig, eSentire SOC Team Lead, Sean McSweeney, Head of Dept of Computer Science at MTU, Ciaran Luttrell, Director of Service Operations EMEA at eSentire and Shatrunjaya Gemawat, IT Management Student and Bursary Recipient.

Ciaran Luttrell, Director of Service Operations EMEA at eSentire, says, “At the heart of our success is our long-standing partnership with MTU which extends beyond our Intern and Graduate programs into continuous collaboration with them and the Cyber Ireland Cluster. We are very proud to be launching this bursary to continue to build on our partnership with MTU and to help foster a passion for Cyber with students at the early stages of their academic journey and on into industry.”

"eSentire has been an invaluable partner to MTU and in particular the Department of Computer Science,” Seán McSweeney, Head of Department of Computer Science at MTU, says. “From the very beginning of eSentire's establishment in Cork they have engaged in a continuous and meaningful way with MTU and supported the academic mission of the University in Cybersecurity. The bonds of friendship and partnership between eSentire and MTU will lead us to ever greater achievement."

eSentire is committed to encouraging, and building, lifelong careers in cybersecurity. Join our team and build your cybersecurity career in one of the world’s most dynamic industries. We are currently hiring across all departments, so visit our eSentire Careers to explore all open roles and apply for the role that best fits your skills.