The UK Cyber Security Council has launched two initiatives, under a mandate from the government, to drive the cyber security profession forward.
The council has invited 16 members of the Cyber Security Alliance determine the terms of reference for the two new committees: a Professional Standards & Ethics Committee, and a Qualifications & Careers Committee. The two committees will be involved in helping ensure a common set of standards are adopted throughout education and training interventions.
“While the Council is 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 cyber security industry forwards,” said Don MacIntyre (pictured), the interim chief executive of the UK Cyber Security Council.
“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,” he added.
The council's mandate from the government is to serve as a focal point around which industry and the professional landscape can “advise, shape and inform national policy on cyber security professional standards”.
Additionally, the council will work on mapping CyBOK’s Qualifications Framework onto a public-facing Career Pathways Framework.
All 16 members of the Cyber Security Alliance have all been offered the honorary status of founding member in recognition of their efforts for establishing the UK Cyber Security Council.
However, all members still need to apply for regular member status in order to contribute to the council’s activities, after the establishment of the first two committees.
