British army struggles to hire cybersecurity experts: The Telegraph

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Telegraph
14 Aug 2023 14:15

The British private sector spurs high competition for cybersecurity experts troubling the UK armed forces.

British troops of a Cyber Unit work on their devices in an undated photo posted on the army's recruitment website (British Ministry of Defence/Website)

Recruiting cybersecurity experts at a crucial period is becoming extremely difficult for the British armed forces amid increased competition fueled by the private sector, the managing director of defense and security at the London-based professional services company Capita, Richard Holroyd, explained.

"You're saying to people with an interest in it, come and be a cyber specialist in the armed forces, but Raytheon [a defense company] is saying come and be a cyber specialist, BT [a telecommunications company] are saying come and be a cyber specialist. So in those spaces, you're competing.. In a labor market with full employment it's a tough, tough play," the expert was quoted as saying by The Telegraph on Sunday.

The newspaper's report revealed that Capita was only able to meet 80% of the army's required target in 2023. The positions that faced the most competition were those that require STEM graduates, that is individuals who have studied science, technology, engineering, and mathematics since they offer their skills to a highly competitive market where such skills are hard to come by for employers.

The UK has been suffering from a national shortage of cyber workers, as government employers struggle to fill nearly four out of ten vacant positions in the field of cybersecurity.

In 2022, demand for cybersecurity experts increased by around a third in the UK, which coincides with the launching of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russia has allegedly executed cyberattacks alongside conventional strikes, has made the need for cybersecurity more pressing for NATO, as per the latter's claim, which has essentially become the technological and industrial backbone of the Ukrainian army.

The UK has positioned itself as a key supporter of Kiev during the war, offering its expertise, weaponry, and technologies to the Ukrainian military. The absence of crucial positions in modern warfare further exacerbates the impact on the British armed forces.