From: Gloucestershire Echo

CYBER security professionals in the UK are to be assessed under a new scheme launched by GCHQ, to protect the UK from attack.

The CESG Certification for IA (Information Assurance) Professionals scheme is set to help businesses and the Government employ the right people for the job. It has been launched by CESG, the IA arm of GCHQ, for employees in the public and private sectors.

Jonathan Hoyle, GCHQ’s director general for Government & Industry Cyber Security, said: “Cyber Security and Information Assurance expertise is at the heart of protecting the UK from cyber attack and I am delighted that GCHQ’s scheme to certify IA professionals in both the public and private sectors is fully up and running.

“GCHQ is looking forward to continuing its close co-operation with the certification bodies in delivering greater professionalism in the information security industry.”

The scheme forms part of a government skills strategy, developed by Cheltenham-based GCHQ in association with its industry partners, to professionalise these roles to support the public sector and develop a joint career development strategy with industry.

It will be run by three independent Certification Bodies, appointed by CESG. They include APM Group; IISP, RHUL & CREST consortium and BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT (information technology).

The objective is to increase the UK’s IA capability in cyber security and meet one of the objectives of the UK Cyber Security Strategy – to build the UK’s knowledge, skills and capability.

It promises to help participants gain a clearly defined career path and an opportunity to develop further with more skills and experience.

Chloe Smith, minister for Political and Constitutional Reform at the Cabinet Office, said: “This is critical if we are to maximise the business opportunities of the networked world and keep the UK at the forefront of innovation.”