UK CALLS LIKE-MINDED NATIONS TOGETHER FOR INTERNATIONAL CYBERSECURITY TALKS

The United Kingdom has commenced a three-day cybersecurity dialogue with nations that share similar views on mitigating the ongoing wave of cyberattacks with focus on the cyber security skills gap and international professional standards within the industry. This follows a string of previous cyber-attacks, including the attempted disruption of London's Transport Network, an attack on NHS service providers, and the worldwide IT outage.

Japan, Canada, EU member states, and international organizations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are among the participating nations and partners at the event that is being held in West Sussex. They will talk specifically on how to improve the global cyber security workforces, including how to raise cyber skills and create new professional standards with attendees set to agree on the key areas it should focus on. The recommendations expected by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the government is introducing a new program to provide customized assistance to all regions of Northern Ireland and England. There will be funding for initiatives aimed at addressing the needs for cyber skills in certain domains; these may include innovative cyber security technology or apprenticeship programs.

This is coming after recent effort by the government to designate data centres as severe National Infrastructure (CNI), alongside energy and water systems in other to facilitate government support for the data centre industry in the event of severe occurrences.

And it coincides with the publication of the latest figures from the government's Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey. These show that while the estimated annual shortfall for jobs in the UK's cyber workforce has fallen from 11,200 last year to just 3,500 this year, 44% of UK businesses lack the basic skills to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.

Additionally, it is timed to coincide with the release of the most recent data from the UK Labour Market Survey Cyber Security Skills report by the government. These indicate that 44% of UK businesses lack the fundamental skills necessary to safeguard themselves against cyberattacks, even though the expected shortfall for jobs in the UK's cyber workforce has fallen from 11,200 last year to just 3,500 jobs this year.

It stated that bolstering UK cyber skills will protect economic growth in the country and grow the £11.9 billion cyber security sector. The government is providing a total of £1.3 million to businesses, local governments, universities, and other organizations to train people in cyber skills and to develop new technologies in cyber protection in both Northern Ireland and England. The program, which will be run by Innovate UK, is currently accepting applications. Selected applicants will receive funding of up to £150,000 by March 2025.

In addition, the UK government has started a contest to identify the brightest young cyber talent who will represent the country abroad. "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," Clark stated.

"But this is a shared challenge, which is why we're bringing together global allies to discuss and agree steps to keep us safe online, improve cyber skills and protect our economy and public services."