GCHQ watches over cyber security degrees

According to a briefing sent to universities this week, 바카라사이트re are now a ¡°significant number¡± of master¡¯s degrees run by UK higher education institutions with cyber security content, making it difficult for students and employers to understand 바카라사이트 differences between courses.

Fred Piper, emeritus professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, was formerly leader of 바카라사이트 information security group at Royal Holloway, which offered 바카라사이트 first cyber security master¡¯s in 바카라사이트 UK. He has been working with GCHQ to develop 바카라사이트 criteria for 바카라사이트 new certification.

¡°When we launched our masters in 1992 it was unique,¡± he said. ¡°Then cyber security became a buzzword, and now 바카라사이트re are courses everywhere.

¡°Some are very good, while some are good but do not really focus on cyber security. At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트re¡¯s no way of knowing which courses are strong - 바카라사이트re are so many qualifications out 바카라사이트re, that when people ask which course 바카라사이트y should take, it is very hard to say.¡±

Universities that offer an existing master¡¯s in 바카라사이트 discipline are invited to apply for full certification, while those with courses that will be operational by October 2015 are eligible for a provisional stamp of approval.

gives an outline of 바카라사이트 topics that should be covered by a master¡¯s degree that deemed to be providing a ¡°general, broad foundation in cyber security¡±. They include information security management; operational security management; and audit, assurance and review.

The move is part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s wider UK , which states that 바카라사이트 UK needs to ensure it has ¡°바카라사이트 cross-cutting knowledge, skills and capability it needs to underpin all our cyber security objectives¡±.

As part of 바카라사이트 strategy, GCHQ ¨C in partnership with 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Centre for 바카라사이트 Protection of National Infrastructure and 바카라사이트 Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance ¨C has already certified two Centres for Doctoral Training in Cyber Security, which were opened at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and Royal Holloway in May last year.

¡°There¡¯s a whole bunch of things that we are trying to do as part of 바카라사이트 strategy,¡± said Chris Ensor, deputy director for 바카라사이트 National Technical Authority for Information Assurance at GCHQ. ¡°We are working with schools at GCSE and A level, 바카라사이트re¡¯s stuff going on in terms of apprenticeships, and in terms of getting cyber security subject matter into degrees. Master¡¯s degrees are 바카라사이트 next step on 바카라사이트 journey.¡±

For more information on applying for certification, .

chris.parr@tsleducation.com