With concerns about a growing shortage of cybersecurity professionals, the UK government has stepped forward with £20 million earmarked for the training of young people in a ‘Cyber Schools Programme’, hosted under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, according to Wired Magazine. Observed managing director of ISC Adrian Davis about the worldwide shortfall, “We’re not growing, we’re not expanding, we don’t have the tens of thousands of cybersecurity professionals joining the industry, we’ve got a greying profession.”
Targeted toward teenagers from age 14 to 18, the courses are intended to teach students about topics like “digital forensics, defending web attacks, programming and cryptography” through “games, challenges, and projects.” Expected to launch at the beginning of the coming school year, students interested in participating will have to first complete a test as part of the application process.
Launching after UK security officials have raised concerns about a skills shortage in cyberscuity, the program is an extension of the UK government’s 2016 announcement of £1.9 billion in investments for the country’s cybersecurity plan. Previous uses of this funding have included the creation of the National Cyber Security, which was one of the responders to the WannaCry ransomware attack.
Noted managing director of ISC Adrian Davis about the shortfall, “We’re not growing, we’re not expanding, we don’t have the tens of thousands of cybersecurity professionals joining the industry, we’ve got a greying profession.”
Source:
http://www.wired.co.uk/article/cyber-skills-uk-cybersecurity-skills-shortage
