The UK’s professional body for the cybersecurity sector has launched a new title designed to support more people at the start of their careers in the industry.<\/p>\n
UK Cyber Security Council said that the Associate Cyber Security Professional title is open to applications from April 13 to May 17. It joins three others: Practitioner, Principal, and Chartered Cyber Security Professional.<\/p>\n
Certification at this level ensures individuals are placed on the UK's Cyber Security Professional Register – signalling that they have the requisite knowledge, skills and ethics, and are committed to 75 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) over three years.<\/p>\n
Individuals must demonstrate competence in five key areas, but they can fast-track their applications if they already hold certain qualifications, training or certifications which have been aligned to these areas, the council said.<\/p>\n
Read more on professional qualifications: UK Cyber Security Council Officially Launches as Independent Body.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n "There are so many people who have the skills and drive for a career in cybersecurity but struggle to prove it to employers. The Associate title changes that,” said UK Cyber Security Council CEO, Giles Grant.<\/p>\n “It gives individuals a credible, government-backed way to demonstrate their readiness for their first cyber role, while giving employers the confidence to hire them. This is a hugely important step in closing the cyber-skills gap and ensuring the UK has the pipeline of cybersecurity professionals it needs.”<\/p>\n Industry skills shortages and gaps have been a concern for many years.<\/p>\n The UK government’s most recent Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market<\/em><\/a> report estimated that half of all UK businesses have a basic cyber-skills gap, while 49% of cybersecurity firms faced problems filling technical roles in the previous 12 months.<\/p>\nClosing the Cybersecurity Skills Gap<\/strong><\/h2>\n