ISC2, the world’s leading nonprofit membership organisation for cybersecurity professionals, has today been announced as a National Ambassador for the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG).
With more than 630,000 members, candidates and associates globally, ISC2 provides certification, training and continuing education for cybersecurity professionals. The organisation is best known for its Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, widely recognised as the “gold standard” in cybersecurity. It is acknowledged by governments and accredited by international bodies, including the UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre.
As a National Ambassador, ISC2 will be joining policing, government and other top-tier National Ambassador partners in strengthening the cyber resilience of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community, and growing NCRCG’s Cyber PATH programme to create a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals.
As part of the National Ambassador Steering Group, ISC2 will work closely with fellow partners, including Aviva, Baseel, CGI, Chainalysis, KPMG, Mastercard, Microsoft, NatWest Group, Resilience, SANS Institute, SAS, Sir Robert McAlpine and The Very Group.
This new role builds on ISC2’s ongoing efforts to expand the UK’s cybersecurity workforce and close the region’s workforce gap of 73,000 individuals. Through its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity programme, ISC2 has committed to provide its free entry-level cybersecurity certification training and exam to one million individuals globally, expanded from its initial “100K in the UK” campaign launched in May 2022. To date, more than 23,000 individuals in the UK have enrolled in its CC certification program. The intiative’s success highlights the importance of creating new and diverse pathways into the industry and removing barriers to entry into the profession.
Ed Parsons, Vice President of Global Markets and Member Relations at ISC2, said:
“Becoming an Ambassador underscores our commitment to making a significant impact in the UK and emphasises the importance of public and private partnerships. Together with our partners, we aim to expand the nation’s cybersecurity talent pipeline and reduce risks in the SME supply chain, thereby strengthening the UK’s national cyber resilience. With the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals outweighing the current supply, it is crucial to establish new pathways into the field, particularly in these critical sectors, to ensure we are building a skilled workforce for the future. We are excited to collaborate with regional Cyber Resilience Centres to make a positive impact across the UK.”
Detective Superintendent Ian Kirby, CEO at NCRCG, said:
“We are so pleased to welcome ISC2 as a National Ambassador. ISC2 is known around the globe for its cybersecurity accreditations, which are valued across the industry as a marker of an individual’s cybersecurity knowledge and skill. I have no doubt that the organisation will be an invaluable addition to our cohort of National Ambassador partners and will bring a wealth of knowledge and new ideas, notably around how we can continue to best develop the cyber skills of the SME community.”
