The UK Cyber Security Council has ushered in its first chartered cyber security practitioners following the launch of its first pilot schemes last year.

According to the Council, which is the owner of the Royal Charter, it is the only body in the world that can charter individuals to award the status of 'Chartered Cyber Security Professional’.

It said that this first group of registered professionals represents a "major step" in bringing cyber in line with other established professions, such as accountancy, engineering and legal.

Over 100 practitioners who completed the pilot schemes are now registered with the Council at either chartered, principal or associate level.

These titles map onto recognised specialisms across the industry, with Cyber Security Governance and Risk and Secure System Architecture and Design the first two such specialisms to offer pilot schemes aligned to the Council’s professional standard.

Becoming chartered is the most prestigious professional registration title recognised by the Council, which itself was granted a royal chartership in 2021.

The introduction of a new professional standard for the industry forms part of the Council's mission to "create a world class cyber security sector" in the UK.

“I’d like to congratulate our first cohort of chartered cyber security professionals," said chief executive of the UK Cyber Security Council, professor Simon Hepburn. "This independent seal of approval and recognition of their competence will serve as a key differentiator between candidates with similar qualifications, experiences and backgrounds."

Hepburn continued: “The Council is committed to working with stakeholders across the industry, with a joint aim of creating a world class cyber sector right here in the UK."

Pilot programmes in other specialisms including Security Testing and Audit and Assurance and Cyber Security Generalist are also currently in progress and will eventually will see chartership of all the Council’s specialisms piloted, and open to applications.

After the successful pilot, both specialisms will open for applications to the wider sector following an Awards Ceremony that took place on 5 October.

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