The cyber security industry is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult for practitioners to know which path to take, how to stay up to date with the latest developments, and keep their qualifications and certifications current. This is why having a professional standard of excellence that individuals can strive towards, such as Chartered status, is so important in this field.
The UK Cyber Security Council is a government backed organisation, set up to standardise the cyber security sector, and we're developing Professional Registration Titles alongside our specialisms, to be able to do this. The titles that individuals will be able to achieve are Associate, Principal and Chartered status.
Chartered status provides an objective measure of proficiency and expertise within the cyber security sector. It demonstrates to employers and clients alike that individuals have achieved a certain level of knowledge and experience in their chosen area, which gives them greater credibility when seeking employment or providing services. Furthermore, it helps ensure quality standards are maintained across the board by setting out clear criteria for what constitutes professional competence in various areas of practice.
Having a unified set of standards also benefits organisations looking to hire the right candidates; they can trust that those they are employing have the right qualifications, certifications, competence, commitment, and experience. With three different titles available, employers are able to recruit a water-tight cyber security team despite the variety of entry routes into the profession.
Additionally, those who achieve a Professional Registration Title such as Chartered status benefit from increased job opportunities due to their enhanced credentials, something which could prove invaluable during times where competition for jobs may be high.
There are various frustrations for experienced cyber security professionals who have considerable experience and have collected many certifications across their career and feel a ceiling has been reached in terms of their professional accolades. With certifications needing to be updated and a marketplace with dozens if not hundreds of courses out there, it can be easy to see Professional Registration Titles as adding to the noise, rather than solving a problem.
However, the UK Cyber Security Council titles serve to assess, and award based on current knowledge and experience. Instead of adding another certification into the mix, we want to give professionals the recognition they deserve for the work they have already put in. We also want to present a clear trajectory for cyber security professionals, whether they are starting out in the sector and looking to become Associates, have valuable and proven experience and want to apply for a Principal title, or whether they are looking for a gold standard of competence and commitment to the field and become a Chartered Cyber Security Professional (ChCSP).
The Council doesn't simply offer the title alone however, we provide additional benefits to our registrants such as access to our Members-Only Area, where you can sign up to dedicated events such as key conferences, webinars, roundtables, and podcasts, read exclusive publications and research from the Council, and see priority opportunities to get involved in our work. Registrants can also view the latest job opportunities available to them across the sector and apply to take part in our working groups and training ahead of the public. We also host focus groups and consultation sessions with registrants that will help shape the work of the Council and influence the cyber security sector at large.
Each of our registrants also commits to our Ethical Declaration. Our Ethical Declaration is a set of values and principles, which influence judgement and guides individuals to conduct business honestly and with integrity. It details ethical standards and provides guidance on behaviour and decision-making in difficult situations, particularly where there are conflicting pressures or considerations which need to be reconciled.
Each registrant is added to our Professional Register, where they can access their awarded title, digital badge, and send previews to prospective clients or employers. The platform alerts users when their title is due for revalidation so there's no need to worry about your title lapsing. This also gives users the option to train to be an assessor for a title they have already surpassed, for example Chartered Professionals can assess candidates for both Associate and Principal titles, meaning you are able to give back to the community if you wish to.
For the titles Chartered and Principal, each individual will be awarded a title based on a specialism of their choice, and they must prove competence in that area. Their application is then assessed by Licensed Bodies, which work closely with the UK Cyber Security Council to recommend who should be awarded a Professional Registration title, and at what level.
Applications go directly to the Licensed Body and are maintained in a secure assessment portal before completion. Once completed, applicants are informed and added to our secure Professional Register. They will then be able to access the benefits listed above, such as the members-only area.
Our journey to Chartered status began in the Autum of 2022 with the specialisms of Cyber Security Governance and Risk Management, and Secure System Architecture and Design. The roadmap for which specialisms we are launching and when can be viewed on our website under the Professional Standards section.
Overall, achieving a Professional Registration Title with the UK Cyber Security Council brings many advantages both on an individual basis as well as at an organisational level; not only does it provide recognition among peers but also serves as proof that one has reached a certain level of achievement in their profession, something which should never be underestimated.
To express your interest in Professional Registration Titles, please visit ukcybersecuritycouncil.org.uk
