INDUSTRY chiefs are continuing a drive to improve the diversity of talent working in cyber security by launching the second survey for people working in the sector.

This year’s survey, which is conducted by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – a part of GCHQ – and KPMG UK, has been expanded to capture new benchmarks on disability, neurodiversity, location of workplace, employer size, and seniority.

It will build on the results of last year’s inaugural report, which revealed that the sector does not benefit from the breadth of talent of the UK’s rich and diverse communities, particularly with regards to a lack of inclusivity across gender, sexual orientation, social mobility, and ethnicity.

Data from this year’s survey, Decrypting Diversity 2021: Diversity & Inclusion in Cyber Security, will be used to identify and act on areas needing further improvement as part of the objective to encourage a wide range of individuals to choose a career within the sector.

Lindy Cameron, Chief Executive of the NCSC, said:

“The cyber security industry plays a vital role in keeping us safe, but we know it doesn’t reflect the communities it serves.

“Our second Decrypting Diversity survey will help us build on the collective understanding of where the sector is falling short, allowing us to break down barriers to ensure that there are opportunities for all.

“We know that a welcoming community and greater diversity leads to more innovation and better outcomes for the UK, and the NCSC is committed to helping transform the cyber security sector into an exemplar of best practice.”

The recommendations from last year’s report – which are published on the NCSC website – urged cyber security leaders to become accountable for diversity and inclusion within their organisations and for the industry to improve how it learns from best practice both within and outside the sector.

The NCSC accepted all of the recommendations from that report and is taking a range of actions as a result, including the introduction of an Outreach Officer role which is designed to encourage people from under-represented communities to begin a career in the cyber security profession.

Jonathon Gill, Head of Aerospace and Defence at KPMG UK, said:

“Diversity and inclusivity must sit at the heart of our cyber security industry if it is to continue to thrive, facilitating the representation of different experiences and worldviews and attracting the brightest talent from across society.

“This survey represents a continuation of our journey with the NCSC to uncover the opportunities to drive positive change and further our roadmap to creating a more inclusive sector.”

The launch of this second survey represents the ongoing commitment from the NCSC and KPMG UK to transform the industry into an exemplar of best practice for diversity and inclusion.

Evidence suggests that a more welcoming community opens leads to greater diversity, increased innovation, and better outcomes, which help to provide greater security for the UK.

All cyber security professionals are encouraged to take part. The survey can be accessed here and will take around 10 minutes to complete. It will close later in the summer with a detailed analysis and recommendations published in September. The survey is anonymous and can be completed by anyone who works or has worked in the cyber security industry.