Armed forces looking to train more regulars, reservists and civilians in cyber security

'We're extremely serious about cyber defence,' says head of training Brigadier Paul Buttery

There has been much talk of late about the urgent need to ensure that the UK's core infrastructure, institutions and companies are sufficiently resilient in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks.

Last year the newly created National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported that more than 200 national security-level cyber incidents per month were logged by the authorities, while just this week the British Chambers of Commerce added its voice to the crescendo of concern, urging companies to do more to bolster their cyber defences.

One of the key issues is a lack of cyber security skills, in both the public and private sectors. The armed forces are pursuing many different routes in their efforts to develop cyber security talent to meet the challenge, from mandating annual cyber security awareness training for all personnel all the way up to offering masters degrees and diplomas in cyber operations, cyber defence and information assurance, and emerging technology monitoring.

Brigadier Paul Buttery, head of training, education, skills, recruiting and resettlement for the British Armed Forces, said that with technology making up an increasingly large part of every activity, the cyber security arena is particularly attractive to both serving military personnel and those leaving the forces.

"We're extremely serious about cyber defence," he said. "And there are a lot of individuals who are interested in exploring a career in cyber."

The rapidly evolving nature of the threat means that barriers must be broken down in order that talent can be tapped wherever it exists.

"Increasingly we're taking a whole force approach," Buttery said. "And also we're working with academia, science and commercial partners."

Examples of this collaboration are found in the new initiatives being put forward, as well as an increasing emphasis on drawing on the skills of the part-time forces, allowing cross-fertilisation between the commercial sector and the military.

"We have a growing reservist cyber capability," Buttery said. "People can use their skills in commercial organisations and bring them into defence, and they can also use the reserve service to improve their own skills."

In 2013 the Joint Forces Command set up two Joint Cyber Units to attract and develop cyber security talent from serving military, reservists and those with no military background whatsoever.

Next year will also see the opening of the National College of Cyber Security on the grounds of Bletchley Park, famous as the home of the World War II code-breakers. This will be a not-for-profit establishment funded in part by BT and the National Museum of Computing and early reports suggest it will be free to attend for young people aged between 16 and 19 who pass a selection process based on aptitude and experience.

Buttery is also involved in finding job opportunities for members of the armed forces and their spouses once they leave the services. Technology can be a particularly useful skill to have when entering the civilian workforce, he said.

"The British armed forces are among the most technically equipped in the world. The majority are accredited to civilian qualifications, so the have highly transferable skills."

Buttery said that 80 per cent of those who use the armed services career transition partnership (CTP) scheme, a resettlement training course provided by the Armed Forces, find stable long-term employment within six months.

However, there are those who require assistance in re-entering the workforce, Buttery said. He was speaking to Computing on the occasion of the formal signing of an agreement on behalf of the Armed Forces with training provider QA, formalising an agreement to provide education in technology skills and assistance with IT work placements to 1,000 military personnel and their spouses as they seek to join the civilian workforce. The Armed Forces Covenant is part of the AWS-sponsored Re:start scheme.

In a statement joint signatory William MacPherson, QA CEO, said: "Technology is the fastest growing sector within the UK, and we are experiencing a chronic skills deficit. Service leavers, veterans, reservists and Cadets, develop fantastic skills whilst serving.

"QA are able to bridge a gap with re-skilling and upskilling those seeking to work in civilian technology based jobs through classroom and online training programmes, with industry-recognised accreditations and qualifications, to provide UK industry and public sector with relevant personnel."

Join Computing in London on 4 May for the Cyber Security Strategy Briefing 2017 for the Financial Sector.

Speakers include Adam Koleda, IT director of insurance firm BPL Global; Peter Agathangelou, associate director of Hamilton Fraser Insurance; and, Dr Kuan Hon, consultant lawyer at law firm Pinsent Masons.

Attendance is free to qualifying IT professionals and IT leaders - register now!