The Chartered Institute of Information Security Professionals has announced its Royal Charter status. That means it’s become the only chartered institute focused solely on cybersecurity, and can – like equivalent bodies for other chartered professions, such as surveyors, accountants and engineers – set standards for skills recognition and career development.
Dr Alastair MacWillson, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Information Security Professionals, is pictured. He says: “As the cybersecurity industry continues to grow, professionalisation has to be central to its agenda, and the institute’s Chartered status will be a key component driving this forward. The institute has spent over a decade using uniquely developed frameworks to set standards for skills, experience and roles across the profession and it’s hugely encouraging to see these standards and processes validated by Charter incorporation. With this new status, we look forward to welcoming new members and to becoming the recognised gold standard for cybersecurity in the UK.”
Founded in 2006, it was formerly the Institute of Information Security Professionals (IISP). The body says that achieving Royal Charter status will empower the institute to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge across the information security profession, as well as develop professional standards for practitioners in the UK and, looking forwards, overseas. It will also encourage the standardisation of security skills, roles and education – removing complexity and confusion and providing the profession with essential guidance in being able to identify and recognise qualified practitioners.
MacWillson adds: “Chartered status will also empower us to support critical efforts towards solving the cybersecurity skills gap. For instance, the industry needs to put more effort into encouraging a more diverse range of applicants to seek employment in the profession, and work with academia to attract young people to begin careers in the industry.”
More in the August print issue of Professional Security magazine. The Institute is running a conference, IISP Live on Thursday, July 11 at Birmingham City University.
Background
After a two year ‘journey’, the IISP was granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation in December.
A Royal Charter is an instrument of incorporation, granted by The Queen, that reflects the status of the body it is granted to. Charters are granted rarely, and a body applying for a Charter would normally be expected to demonstrably meet several criteria about its reputation, its standing and contribution to the profession. Incorporation by Charter is limited to bodies that are pre-eminent in their field and who exist to advance the public interest.
