Network Communications News (NCN) October 2017 | Page 9
INDUSTRY NEWS
The 8th Cyber Security Challenge UK Masterclass takes place in November
London Cyber Security: The ultimate challenge designed to unearth new talent
Cyber security experts from BT, Airbus, NCA, Bank of England,
Cisco, McAfee, Checkpoint, De Montfort University’s Cyber
Technology Institute, 4PumpCourt and Darktrace have
announced that they will stage the 8th Cyber Security
Challenge UK Masterclass titling it ‘the most advanced one
yet’, on November 12-14, 2017 in London.
Spanning two and a half days, Masterclass is the
culmination of a year’s worth of nationwide face-to-face and
online competitions, designed to unearth and nurture new talent
for the cyber security industry and address a critical skills
shortage that affects government, businesses and the public.
The competition, led by BT, in partnership with Airbus,
will see dozens of the UK’s top cyber enthusiasts; face each
other in a battle that will test their capabilities to deal with
cyber-attacks and understanding of business know-how. The
challenges will evaluate contestants’ technical, business,
and soft skills, which mirror the different ways professionals,
communicate today.
This year’s Masterclass sets to demonstrate how cyber
security can be an accessible career choice that has a number of
different facets and pathways. BT recently identified 87 different
roles in the cyber security industry, each requiring a different
skillset, which will be reflected in this year’s competition.
Highly experienced professionals from government, public
and private organisations across the country will judge the
contestants for a number of aptitudes that will rank their
suitability for jobs in the sector. The best performing candidate
will be crowned Cyber Security Challenge UK Champion.
Thousands of pounds worth of career-enabling prizes will be
issued to those who take in the finale including training courses,
tech equipment and even a fully paid-for Master’s degree
sponsorship at De Montfort University, allowing one lucky
contestant the chance to study an MSc in Cyber Security.
Over the years, more than half of the contestants in
the Challenge’s face-to-face and Masterclass competitions
have moved on into jobs in the industry after demonstrating
their skills in front of the industry assessors. Organisers say
competitions like this are crucial for identifying top quality
recruits that could reduce the skills deficit.
Nigel Harrison, acting CEO, Cyber Security Challenge UK,
says: “This year’s consortium of sponsors are working on
taking Masterclass to the next level, adding new dimensions
and levels of game-play that we have yet to see in our
competitions to date.
“We are always trying to match our challenges to the way
industry is evolving and ensure that they test for the skills
the industry requires, and we look forward to seeing how the
finalists fare in a modern cyber security scenario.”
More information: Cyber Security Challenge UK Masterclass
01908 363 432, cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk
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