As the upcoming September signals the return of students to school, educational institutions are being urged to capitalise on complimentary resources designed to enhance cyber skills. These resources are aimed at preparing ambitious young individuals for potential careers in the field of cybersecurity.
Cyber Explorers, a free educational platform offered by the UK Government, has already garnered the participation of over 50,000 students from 2,000 schools across the nation. Geared towards 11-to-14-year-olds, this platform introduces them to crucial cyber security concepts, aligning with learning objectives for Key Stage 2 and 3.
Students have the opportunity to delve into a diverse array of captivating and challenging cyber scenarios. They can earn virtual badges, acquire insights and techniques from the Cyber Ranger and experts in the Cyber Squad, and engage in interactive quizzes and activities. Through these interactions, they will acquire the digital, computing, and cyber skills necessary to navigate the online realm proficiently. These skills will also unlock an array of exciting career pathways, ranging from crafting social media content to contributing to medical research, and from developing sports technology to pioneering advancements in AI.
The government’s vision revolves around cultivating a talent pipeline to meet the burgeoning demands of the UK’s high-demand cyber security industry. Launched in February 2022, Cyber Explorers has been instrumental in equipping students with the aptitudes and knowledge required to pursue computer science courses during Key Stage 4. This not only opens doors to further training but also paves the way for prospective employment opportunities.
Cyber Minister Viscount Camrose said: “The UK’s growing cyber sector is where the technological innovations and digital discoveries of the future will start. That’s why we’re focused on breaking down the barriers to entry, and creating new opportunities for young people to gain the skills and knowledge that could kick-start exciting careers in cyber.
“More than 2,000 schools across the country are already signed up to Cyber Explorers, meaning that tens of thousands of pupils can benefit from the resources on offer – and we want to make sure even more get that chance this year.”
All that is required from teachers, parents, and guardians of home-schooled students is to enrol their students, granting them access to complimentary lesson plans, resources, and comprehensive guides aimed at providing extensive educational support.
Participating schools in the Cyber Explorers initiative have also organised numerous career-oriented sessions for their students. Additionally, distinguished companies like Amazon and Verizon have taken active roles in these schools, showcasing practical applications of cyber skills to the students.
A recent report, issued last year, regarding the state of cyber security skills in the UK labour market, revealed that approximately half of all businesses were facing a fundamental gap in cyber skills. The count of job postings in the field of cyber security increased by 30%, reaching a number of around 160,000. Despite this growth, there remains a deficit of about 11,200 professionals in the UK’s cyber workforce. The representation of women in the sector is merely 17%, and leadership positions do not adequately reflect gender and ethnic diversity as seen across the broader society.
In light of these circumstances, the UK Government is making substantial investments in nurturing the next wave of cyber professionals and security experts. This initiative assists young individuals in cultivating the skills and knowledge highly valued in the UK’s cyber sector, which is worth a remarkable £10.5 billion to the economy.
Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said: “I’m always delighted to see more students being introduced to the exciting world of cyber security, and Cyber Explorers acts a fun and engaging first step on that journey.
“The UK’s cyber industry is growing rapidly, but it’s facing a skills shortage as a result – which is why it’s so important to have initiatives such as Cyber Explorers which work to uncover cyber talent and support young people across the country in exploring the career opportunities this thriving industry has to offer.
“As part of the CyberFirst Programme, Cyber Explorers will play a key role in making cyber more accessible to young people, building the cyber skills pipeline of the future.”
The government’s commitment to enhancing and expanding Britain’s cyber skills is set out in the Science and Technology Framework and the £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy.
Programmes such as Cyber Explorers and Cyber First continue to play a vital role in that mission as builds a digital workforce to unleash innovation, unlock opportunity, and secure the UK’s digital economy.
Responding to the news Achi Lewis, Area VP EMEA for Absolute Software commented: “It is brilliant to see government and the education sector working together to deliver essential cybersecurity training to usher in the new wave of cyber professionals. Cyber Explorers offers students a head start in cyber training, keeping them up to date with the latest trends and innovations impacting organisations. In an industry where the complexity of threats continues to rise, it is more important than ever to encourage people into cyber to help protect organisations from prevailing attacks.”
“Beyond education institutions, all staff across all industries should be provided with basic cyber skills as part of their training in order to understand the threats posed as well as how to detect and react to when an attack happens, not just if. This preparedness can be the vital difference between days of downtime and months of recovery or systems staying online and protected.”
As part of the initiative, schools will host leading industry players such as Amazon and Verizon to showcase practical applications of cyber skills.
Oseloka Obiora, Chief Technology Officer for RiverSafe, commented: “Cyber training at the school level is an excellent initiative to encourage young people to pursue a career in cybersecurity and now is the perfect time for people to get involved. Access to industry insights and real-world resources to detail cyber security concepts is an important step to creating a cyber proficient workforce and mitigate both internal and external risks in the workplace.
“Threats such as stolen credentials are a common cause of cyber breaches hitting organisations of late and cyber training is an essential way ensure staff stay vigilant to areas like this that cause businesses enormous damage. Whether it be insider threats from disgruntled staff or targeted attacks from malicious external cyber criminals, staff training can provide an important level of protection for organisations to prevent breaches from occurring.”
