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nSince the first seed was sown back in 2016, work has been underway toncreate an independent body to support growth and professionalism withinnthe U.K.’s cybersecurity education, training and skills activities. Now,nthat body has come into being in the form of the U.K. Cyber SecuritynCouncil. ISC2 staff and members have been involved in this project sincen2018 and have been diligently working alongside volunteers from othernorganizations on the Council Formation Project, which concludes todaynfollowing more than 18 months of work.n
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nThe Council will support ISC2 and other organizations involved inncybersecurity skills and education, helping with additional tools andnresources to define cybersecurity career pathways, linking the rightnqualifications to the right career trajectories. It will providenlong-term thinking for growing the scale and diversity of the professionnwith aligned Council programs, creating further opportunities for peoplento join a more inclusive and diverse working community. Ultimately, thenCouncil will be a voice of the profession, speaking to all stakeholdersnon the profession’s priorities, challenges and ideas and helping ISC2 innits efforts to advocate for members and the sector as a whole.n
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nThe Council operates to complement and support organizations such asnISC2, not replace or compete with them. Also, it is not a technicalnbody. The role of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is clearlyndefined as the U.K.’s technical and incident response cybersecuritynagency. While both share the same overall objective, the Council willnfocus specifically on education, training and skills development.n
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nThe primary role of the Council is to champion the cybersecuritynprofession across the U.K. In doing so, it will provide broadnrepresentation for the industry, increase and improve awareness of thentrends and skills issues in the sector, and promote excellence in thenprofession.n
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nIt will bring thought leadership, career mapping tools and otherneducation resources to the cybersecurity sector and be an independentnsource of information for those seeking to enter the sector, alongsidenhelping to influence government, industry and academia. It will do allnof this with the aim of developing and promoting U.K. cybersecuritynexcellence globally and growing the nation’s cybersecurity skills base.n
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The Council is built on four key pillars:
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Professional Development – A key function of the Council is to support the professionalndevelopment of those working in or aspiring to work in thencybersecurity profession. It will support employers and individualsnas they make career-shaping decisions about skills, development andnrecognition. The Council will do this by mapping routes into andnthrough the cybersecurity profession, establishing a professionalnqualification framework, mapping criteria to appropriate skills andnqualifications.
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Outreach and Diversity in Cyber Security to Develop the NextnGeneration – Supporting and improving diversity in the UK cybersecurity sector isnof paramount importance if we are to broaden the skills base andnovercome actual and perceived barriers to entry and progression. ThenCouncil will promote cyber security as an attractive and rewardingncareer option for people of all ages, including those recently inneducation and those already in work looking to career change ornprogress on an existing cyber path. ISC2 has also acknowledged thisnwith the creation of its ownnDiversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) task forcenwhich will look to support and work with the Council to achievenshared diversity aims.
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Professional Ethics – At the core of the Council is a Code of Ethics for the participatingnorganizations as well as individual professionals. This code, innconjunction with those of individual organizations, enshrines thenguiding principles within which all participants in thencybersecurity sector can demonstrate good practice.
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Thought Leadership and Influence – The Council’s role enables it to engage with and inform standardsnbodies, Government policy and regulation development by acting as annexpert body. Thought leadership content and activities from thenCouncil recognize and highlight cybersecurity as a global sector,nhelping to forge and nurture essential international links, whilenworking with industry and regulators to further the cause of thensector and to ensure needs are understood on both sides.
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nWith those four pillars providing the parameters for the Council’snfocus and activities, it will work to support the aims of thenGovernment’s National Cyber Security Strategy. Those aims includenmaking the U.K. the safest place to live and work online, along withnmaintaining and growing the U.K.’s position as a global center ofncybersecurity skills excellence.n
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What is the Cyber Security Alliance?
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