Cyber security jobs news roundup: April 2023

Keep up-to-date with some of the biggest stories in the world of cyber security in our monthly roundup.

We’re rounding up some of the biggest cyber security stories of the past few weeks. In April, the government outlined a new cyber defence strategy, Northern Ireland continues to grow as an industry leader, senior executives are encouraged to invest in their people and the UK is predicted to become the world-leading cyber power.

Government introduces new cyber security measures

The government has announced a new set of defence measures to combat the growing threat of cyber attacks. Known as GovAssure, the regime is intended to bolster the UK’s resilience and safeguard essential IT functions from threats.

The scheme will be run by the Cabinet Office’s Government Security Group (GSG), with technical support from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This means the government will be making changes to the way it protects itself from cyber crime, including the implementation of the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework and third-party assessments.

Vincent Devine, government chief security officer, commented: “This is a transformative change in government cyber security. It will set clear expectations for departments, empower hard-working cyber security professionals to strengthen the case for security change and will be a powerful tool for security advocacy.”

The rise of Northern Ireland as a leading cyber security hub

Northern Ireland’s growth as a global cyber security hub stems from the Good Friday Agreement, according to government chiefs, as the accord continues to help secure UK-wide digital resilience 25 years after it was signed.

Speaking at CyberUK in Belfast, NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron added: “The prosperous economy you see in Northern Ireland today has been built on the foundations of the peace process. The thriving cyber security industry is just one fantastic example of this.”

Northern Ireland’s tech community has been on the rise for many years, attracting top talent from across the globe. Recently, the government announced funds of almost £19 million to strengthen cyber expertise, including plans for a Cyber-AI hub in Belfast.

Cyber security chiefs urged to invest in people

The NCSC has overhauled its Cyber Security Board Toolkit to help industry leaders have “essential discussions” with their staff and key stakeholders. This includes videos, podcasts and documentation aimed at helping boards to foster an established, experienced workforce.

Above all things, the toolkit encourages high-level cyber security professionals to invest in their people. Given the potentially catastrophic ramifications of breaches for business operations, the agency implores boards to treat cyber security with the same urgency as they would legal or financial issues.

Jen Easterly, director of the US Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), agreed: “The global companies that reside in the US and the UK understand that cyber security is a borderless issue. This toolkit will be another valuable resource in helping them take accountability for decisions, ultimately raising the collective cyber security baseline for us all.”

UK could become world-leading cyber power

The UK has an opportunity to close gaps in cyber security employment faster than any other country, according to a report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). The international security and defence think tank concluded this upon reviewing legislation and regulations of the six major jurisdictions: The UK, the US, Canada, Singapore, Japan and the EU.

With a worldwide shortage of cyber security professionals and governments competing for talent, the UK was described as “a highly capable cyber state” with the ambition of becoming a “cyber power”. 

Clare Rosso, CEO of (ISC)2, stated that Britain can become a “world leader” in the industry, but must share its best practices “openly and transparently” to facilitate international cooperation.