ISC2 hosted the “Future of Cybersecurity Parliamentary Reception” in Westminster, London on November 12, 2024. This event brought together key stakeholders from the UK’s cybersecurity landscape - including industry leaders, academia and government officials - to engage in an important dialogue about the growing cybersecurity threats we face and the highly anticipated Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.
Tara Wisniewski, ISC2’s EVP of Advocacy, Global Markets, and Member Engagement, delivered a speech covering the critical issues facing the UK cybersecurity profession and the role ISC2 is playing in shaping its future.
Tara emphasized the importance of elevating cybersecurity as a prestigious career akin to fields like accountancy or engineering. She called on policymakers to continue their support for the cybersecurity field and work collaboratively with organizations like ISC2 to ensure the skills pipeline is robust, diverse, and prepared to meet future demands. With 91% of UK cybersecurity professionals reporting skills gaps, urgent action is needed to enhance both workforce and skills development to strengthen defenses.
Building a Skilled, Future-Ready Workforce
ISC2’s 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study reports that nearly 75% of responding UK cybersecurity professionals consider the threat landscape the worst they have seen in five years. This is evident in the recent spate of cyberattacks on the UK’s critical infrastructure, including transport and healthcare systems.
During the event, Dr. Allison Gardner, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, also spoke about the growing challenges in the cybersecurity field, with a focus on the expanding skills gap exacerbated by emerging technologies like AI and the regulatory landscape. In order to build a resilient and skilled cyber workforce, Dr. Gardner highlighted the importance of engaging students early in their careers and aligning education with industry needs.
Spotlighting the McPartland Review’s findings, she noted cybersecurity’s impressive growth, with revenue more than doubling to £10.5 billion since 2018. Yet, she warned of rising nation-state threats and sophisticated cybercrime tactics, stressing the urgency of adopting principles from the National Cyber Strategy and enacting legislation such as the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to safeguard critical infrastructure and digital services.
Dr. Gardner recognized that recent cyberattacks targeting the NHS further highlight that swift action is needed to address vulnerabilities, safeguard the UK’s digital economy, and drive sustainable growth. UK laws must keep pace with rapid technological advancements. First announced in July 2024 during the King’s Speech, the UK government introduced the new Bill to “strengthen the UK’s cyber defenses and ensure critical infrastructure and the digital services companies rely on are secure.”
To conclude, Dr. Gardner called for a decentralized approach to cybersecurity in the UK, urging a focus on developing talent beyond London and the South East. She applauded initiatives like Skills England and regional Cyber Resilience Centres as critical to addressing skills gaps in AI, cloud computing, and digital forensics expertise.
Dr. Gardner affirmed her commitment to ensuring government reforms bolster skills provision, enabling both youth and experienced workers to thrive in cybersecurity careers. She acknowledged ISC2’s pivotal role in workforce development and international collaboration, recognizing the organization as a vital partner in shaping a secure digital future.
Supporting SMEs in the Community
In addition to supporting individuals entering the profession, ISC2 is also focused on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - vital to the UK economy - build their cybersecurity capabilities. In July 2024, the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG) announced ISC2 as its newest National Ambassador. Emphasizing the importance of public-private partnerships, the focus of this alliance is to strengthen the cyber resilience of SMEs in the supply chain and expand NCRCG’s Cyber PATH programme. This initiative gives young people the chance to collaborate with senior security practitioners to deliver affordable, high-quality cyber resilience services to SMEs.
Navigating the Path Ahead
Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, addressing the growing skills gaps remains a critical challenge. ISC2’s gathering of UK stakeholders cemented the need for collaborative efforts to help build the UK’s cyber resilience. This includes creating accessible pathways into the field, ensuring opportunities for new entrants while supporting the ongoing development of current practitioners, and strengthening the entire supply chain, including SMEs. Only through a united approach can we build the diverse, skilled talent pool required to meet the demands of an evolving threat landscape.
Through global advocacy, ISC2 remains committed to strengthening the cybersecurity workforce, influencing impactful policies, and driving public-private partnerships. By championing workforce development and fostering international collaboration, ISC2 continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a safer digital future - one that is resilient, innovative, and prepared for emerging challenges.