The UK Cyber Security Council has launched its first two initiatives as part of its remit to boost professional standards in the cyber industry.
The council, which started work as an independent body on March 31 2021, has invited 16 members of the Cyber Security Alliance to apply for a role in determining the terms of reference for two new committees: a Professional Standards & Ethics Committee and a Qualifications & Careers Committee. The Cyber Security Alliance is a group of organizations that the UK government established in 2019, from which the council was set up.
The two new committees will be involved in helping ensure a common set of standards are adopted throughout education and training interventions related to cybersecurity. This represents the first stage to provide a focal point through which industry and the professional landscape can advise, shape and inform national policy on cybersecurity professional standards.
The council added that while representatives of the Cyber Security Alliance will develop the terms of reference, the committees will be made up of members of the council. Membership is only open for expressions of interest at this stage, with the application process begins shortly, and new members join from September.
Additionally, the council has announced it will be working on an initial mapping of CyBOK’s Qualifications Framework onto a public-facing Career Pathways Framework.
Don MacIntyre, the interim chief executive of the UK Cyber Security Council, commented: “While the Council is uniquely supported by the UK Government and has a Board of experienced industry professionals, it will be through its members that the UK Cyber Security Council will play a central role in driving the cybersecurity industry forwards. We don’t have the luxury of starting with something ‘easy’: professional standards and qualifications and careers are the two stand-out issues facing the profession, so we’re going to hit the ground running. There will never be a better opportunity for the profession to influence its own direction and development than joining the council and getting involved with these first two committees.”
All 16 members of the Cyber Security Alliance have also been offered the honorary status of Founding Member of the Council in recognition of their efforts in developing the body. However, they will still need to apply for regular member status to contribute to the council’s activities going forward.