WIREDGOV

DCMS has published a consultation looking at ways in which to professionalise the cyber security sector.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published a consultation looking at ways in which to professionalise the cyber security sector; primarily through the creation of a Cyber Security Council that would align the vast number of different existing cyber professional qualifications and develop Royal Chartered Status for the cyber security sector.

Amongst the proposals in the consultation include:

• The creation of a new UK Cyber Security Council, independent of Government, that is designed and owned by the cyber profession.  It is proposed that the Council will oversee the development of a Royal Chartered status as the gold standard of expertise, excellence and professional conduct for cyber security professionals to aspire to.
• The Council will include work with, rather than replace, existing professional organisations and it is anticipated that the Council will have broad representation from the cyber security ecosystem.  This will include, for example, professional bodies, academia, providers of cyber security certifications and qualifications and training provider.
• The proposed Council would not award chartered status to individuals itself, but rather license its organisational members to offer a common chartered status to their individual members. That would allow the range of organisations, some of whom may separately have been incorporated by Royal Charter and others who have not, to issue a common chartered status for cyber security overseen by the Council

The proposed Council will also be responsible for: 

Professional Development: The Council will support the continued professional development of those already working in or aspiring to work in cyber security and help employers and consumers make more informed decisions about the cyber security capability they need.  It will align and co-ordinate the vast range of valuable professional qualifications and certifications which spans both vocational and academic certification already available and develop proposals for a common Royal Chartered Status for individuals to

Professional Ethics: The Council will develop a cohesive Code of Ethics which will be adopted and applied across the different specialisms and qualifications/certifications in cyber security

Thought Leadership and Influence: Finally, the proposed Council will provide coordinated leadership and influence to other sectors and government in the best interests of the cyber profession

The full consultation document can be accessed here. 

On behalf of its members, techUK will be responding to the consultation.  In particular, we are seeking views from members on the following questions:

• What are the current challenges in the current cyber security professionalisation landscape that you feel need to be addressed?
• Do you think having a commonly agreed and adopted Code of Ethics for cyber security professionals for all specialisms is a good idea? And why?
• Do you think there is a requirement for better coordination to ensure there is a coherent and independent leadership voice on behalf of the whole profession?
• Are there any other policy or professional development issues where you think the profession should lead on the development of an agreed position?
• Do you think that a new UK Cyber Security Council is an appropriate way of delivering on the objectives set out above in the consultation document? Why?
• Should the Council be self-sustaining financially? Why do you think that it is or is not viable for a new UK Cyber Security Council to become self-sustaining financially by the end of 2021?
• Are there any other attributes you think would be key for the new Council to include?

Please send your answers, and any other views that you may have on the proposals, to Dan Patefield by the close of play on Friday 3 August.

PROFESSIONAL BODY CONSULTATION DOCUMENT (DOCX)