DCMS CONSULTATION TO DEVELOP CYBERSECURITY PROFESSION

07 August 2018

The need for cyber security professionals has increased rapidly this year, which is why the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has setup a consultation until the 31^st August, which will support the National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS), in developing the cyber security profession further. The consultation caters to a wide-ranging demographic, including cybersecurity specialists, current UK-based organizations for cybersecurity specialists, law enforcement and academia sectors including students and graduates.

This announcement was made following The Joint Committee for the NCSS’ criticisms regarding the lack of urgency from the government in relation to the critical status of the UK’s cybersecurity infrastructure. As well as critique relating to inequality, with Kamila Hankiewicz, the managing director of Girls In Tech stating that:

“The current education model is flawed and results in a low number of women applying to technology roles. This means our nation missed out a huge group of talent in positions needed for the future workforce”

“It is our responsibility, as the future leaders of the UK, to ensure that our governments are investing in children at an early age – preventing them from developing an unconscious bias towards STEM and getting them excited about the opportunities that the future digital economy presents”

Currently, the government-run NCSS has set a goal for 2021 with a focus on maintaining the best UK-based cybersecurity talent. By the end of 2019 they intend to align specialist career routes in a coherent fashion, as well as create a Draft Code of Ethics, which must be approved by existing cybersecurity professionals.

In support of these new additions, a variety of organisations have united to form The Alliance, in order to develop the cybersecurity profession, focusing on the clarification of skills, competencies, and career routes within the occupation. Whilst also supporting the NCSS with national policy and recognition of professionals with Chartered status.  One of the founding members of The Alliance, Talal Rajab from techUK stated that

“The Alliance will go a long way to provide a focal point for the sector on the cyber security skills, competencies and standards needed to ensure that the UK has the skills to remain resilient to the growing cyber-threat”

In addition to the consultation, DCMS have announced their proposal for a UK cybersecurity council, which would be an independent body, separate from the government.

The chairwoman of the DCMS, Margot James discussed the interventional consultation and the need for an independent council, stating that:

“More needs to be done to create the environment for the cybersecurity profession in the UK to develop at the pace required”

“There was a strong sense from many we engaged with that there is no generally accepted, unifying narrative of what makes a cybersecurity professional. Misconceptions and stereotypes about cybersecurity professionals remain and we heard clearly many still consider cybersecurity to be a complex subject area and a career which lacks routes into and through it”.