The UK is set to unveil a new skills initiative at the Global Cyber Skills Summit 2024, as the UK, US, and EU convene as part of a “renewed focus” to tackle cyber threats.
Cyber Security Minister Feryal Clark confirmed that the UK will launch a regional skills programme to fund initiatives such as apprenticeships to build local pipelines of cyber experts across England and Northern Ireland, as well as funding companies developing new forms of cyber security.
Cyber skills training
Alongside this, Innovate UK is pioneering a scheme where £1.3 million is being made available for universities, local councils, and businesses to provide cyber skills training.
Cyber Security Minister Feryal Clark said, “The UK needs a significant improvement in its cyber defences after the previous government failed to strengthen our cyber laws – we’re fixing that. Later this year, we’ll bring forward new measures to better protect the nation from cyber-crime and our new regional skills programme will support the next generation of cyber talent and innovators.”
Cyber skills road map
In recent months there have been major attacks against NHS Hospitals, the Ministry of Defence, and Transport for London
The summit takes place at Wilton Park in West Sussex, with the goal of road mapping the future development of cyber skills during a period of heightened threat.
In recent months there have been major attacks against NHS Hospitals, the Ministry of Defence, and Transport for London, causing IT outages and downtime across Critical National Infrastructure.
Improving cyber resilience
Andy Ward, SVP International for Absolute Security, commented, “A wave of high-profile cyber attacks this year has highlighted the need to constantly improve the UK’s cyber resilience, so this week’s coalition to tackle threats and boost cyber skills is a welcome sight."
"Particularly when it comes to state-sponsored threats, public services, and critical national infrastructure are at the top of the hit list, containing vast amounts of sensitive data that can have a catastrophic impact if IT systems are breached.”
Threat identification and report
“An organisation is only as strong as its weakest link whether that’s an endpoint device like a laptop or a member of staff that hasn’t been given the requisite cyber skills training."
"For all of the tech-powered cyber defences, every member of staff within an organisation must be equipped with cyber skills, understanding how to identify and report threats, as well as recover when an attack occurs, not just if. This alone can save precious time in the event of an outage, reducing downtime and keeping the UK’s critical national infrastructure online.”
Re-evaluating cyber defence strategies
While the shortfall across the cyber workforce has been reduced, 44 percent of UK businesses lack the skills
Recent findings from the government’s Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey highlighted that while the shortfall across the cyber workforce has been reduced, 44 percent of UK businesses lack the skills to protect themselves from cyber threats.
David Manfield, Associate Director for Cyber Security at Investigo, commented, “Cyber threats are only increasing in volume and sophistication so organisations must re-evaluate their cyber defence strategies, from technology to people, to ensure they can stay online in the face of an attack."
Reskilling and upskilling programmes
"This week’s global coalition is an excellent opportunity to roadmap the UK’s plan to solve the cyber skills crisis, hopefully providing funding and initiatives to encourage new talent into the cybersecurity sector,” said David.
“Hiring cyber staff is the top talent pain point for the boardrooms across the UK, so the government, industry, and recruiters must work closely to create pathways to encourage talent into cybersecurity. Whether it’s launching reskilling and upskilling programmes or taking a new approach to interim versus consultancy staff within organisations, bringing new people into the sector and building a diverse pipeline of cyber talent is essential to improving cyber readiness.”
