Building capacity early: UK to train future cybersecurity brains

A UK government programme led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will train at least 5700 teenagers in the country in cybersecurity skills by 2021 in order to boost Britain’s defences against online attacks. The government has decided to do so after warnings of future skills shortage and concerns about security of the country’s economy and infrastructure. Officials say the new Cyber Schools Programme aims to support and encourage pupils to develop some of the key skills they would need to work in cyber security and help defend the nation’s businesses against online threats. Ministers are making up to £20 million available for extracurricular sessions which will see expert instructors drafted in to teach, test and train teenagers selected for the initiative. A “cyber curriculum” will be drawn up to mix classroom and online teaching with real-world challenges and hands-on work experience.