Government backs competition to recruit security experts

By Claudine Beaumont
Technology Editor
Telegraph.co.uk
27 April 2010

The competition, which has the backing of the Cabinet Office and the Metropolitan Police, uses a series of web-based games and challenges to find people with untapped analytical, forensic and programming skills.

There are fears that unless the country bolsters its ranks of computer security experts and analysts, it won't be able to cope with rising levels of cyber crime.

The Cyber Security Challenge games are designed to measure eight key skill areas, including network analysis and logical thinking. People who pass those challenges will be invited to take part in further tests to ascertain their suitability for a security role. Those who meet the requirements could be offered scholarships and training courses.

"The current system is not delivering enough skilled professionals to meet the cyber security challenges we face," said Judy Baker, director of the Cyber Security Challenge. "We have to improve the quality and quantity of talented people entering the profession to accommodate escalating requirements.

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