A guide to cyber security certification and training

With the UK facing an ever-widening skills gap, especially in the field of cyber security, the need to train the workforce in a variety of areas is as pressing as ever. Organisations face restrictions on importing foreign talent, just as they fear the effects of the looming EU withdrawal on their prospects. It’s imperative, now more than ever, for businesses to take stock of their existing cyber security workforce and consider ways to improve the range of skills their teams can showcase.

With instances of cyber crime and data breaches growing at a frightening rate, the impetus on businesses to have the appropriate cyber security training is stronger than ever. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), too, demands greater attention from businesses to privacy and data security. Qualifications and certifications can prove a really useful route to circumventing the skills gap, with businesses putting up their own employees for further training.

Finding the right talent, of course, in today’s landscape is exceptionally difficult, with Tech Nation research revealing that 83% of tech firms are feeling the effects of a skills shortage in areas that are most needed to grow a business on the digital front.

Wages, too, will continue to climb as demand for skills, and a lack of talent, perseveres, which could exacerbate existing problems that organisations experience on the hunt for qualified cyber security professionals.

There are plenty of opportunities, however, to put members of your team forward for cyber security training. In an increasingly volatile hiring landscape, the smarter choice may be to make do with what you’ve got, and bolster your organisation’s ranks with additional skills and training programmes.

Often enough, a certificate is provided when a course ends, so it gives employees something solid and meaningful to present to their managers. The courses on offer are highly varied, meanwhile, ranging from white hat hacking to data protection and risk management.

Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned veteran looking to brush up on your skills, here are the top cyber security training courses to hone your abilities.

Responsible for Information training

The government has realised how vital it is to get small businesses on board with cyber security training, noting that it...