Government should launch a Cyber Charter that will empower large companies to share their cyber security expertise and resources with their critical suppliers. Thatโs among the recommendations by the Conservative MP for Stevenage Stephen McPartland, in his review into cyber and economic growth for the Government.
Cyber security can be an enabler of growth; a source of competitive advantage and a driver of economic and social value in a rapidly changing world that makes the UK a technology superpower. Our insurance, legal services, and financial services sectors are world leading and cyber security can be the fourth pillar to stand alongside these, according to the review.
From roundtable events, cyber security and resilience in the supply chain emerged as a key theme, according to the Review. Many companies consider cyber security an IT issue, rather than a risk and governance matter for Boards or Directors of companies, according to the document. It went on: โFinancial and regulatory risk is clearly understood, however, there’s often limited awareness regarding the potential impact of cyber incidents on a company’s cashflow and business operations, with many lacking plans to successfully recover from cyber attacks. There is both an educational and skills gap from the Board level down, particularly in many mid cap and smaller businesses.โ
The review stressed a need to be able to communicate a return on investment for cyber as companies seek to benefit from digitisation. Support is needed to tackle technical debt and vulnerabilities, especially in supply chains, using trusted levers such as Companies House and banks to promote basic cyber hygiene. Clear pathways are needed for education, skills, training and accreditations. The review also spoke in terms of opportunities; such as, to encourage career transitions, promote diversity, and empower underrepresented groups into the wider cyber workforce with technical, analytical and communication skills. It said: โChanging the narrative is key to attracting more people and investment into cyber security. To be cyber resilient and agile in recovering from cyber attacks we must also tackle the scourge of ransomware, driving down the cost of insurance and utilising AI in the delivery of innovative products to provide real time protection of companies.โ
The review hailed that the UK has a strategic advantage in developing innovative cyber products, services, and standards; โfrom Quantum technologies, cryptography, to delivering a range of services including legal, insurance and consultingโ. McPartland also saw opportunity to take a lead on delivering โGreen Cyberโ: โhow to cyber secure the green technology required to move towards a net zero economyโ.
For the 45-page report visit https://www.stephen-mcpartland.com/.
Comment
Among those taking part in the roundtables was Dr Andrea Cullen, CEO and co-founder at CAPSLOCK, which offers cyber ‘bootcamps’. She said: โWeโre pleased to see the McPartland Review emphasise the need for diverse cyber skills to protect the UK’s critical national infrastructure and drive economic growth. It provides clear guidance on the need to prioritise skills and training to retain employees, and we hope that the sector now takes action to reskill employees to bridge the skills gap and build a cyber workforce for a secure future.
โPart of the issue of the cyber security skills gap is that we continue to hire from the same talent pool. Instead, we need to recruit people of all ages, and from different educational backgrounds and ethnicities to build a cyber workforce that truly reflects the society it protects. We must also not discount those who lack technical expertise. The sector would greatly benefit from bringing in people with softer skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, who show enthusiasm, aptitude and willingness to learn.
โWe hope to work with government and private sector organisations to reskill people in cyber, fill the talent gap and bolster the UKโs cyber defences.โ
