University providing businesses with access to next generation of cyber professionals
University of Gloucestershire is collaborating with the South West Cyber Resilience Centre on a Home Office-funded initiative providing small to medium enterprises with access to the next generation of cyber specialists.
The Cyber Path scheme, developed by the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group, connects SMEs seeking high-quality assistance in maintaining their cyber security with knowledgeable students from the University’s BSc Cyber Security programme.
Across a range of services, students will support SMEs by carrying out a detailed report of a client’s cyber security systems and identify critical weaknesses that could leave it vulnerable to criminals.
The students – supervised by senior cyber practitioners from the university – can advise on measures to improve company security, including providing security advice training to staff and volunteers.
The initiative is supported by the University’s Your Future Plan scheme, which enables students to develop their skills and gain real-world experience through the University’s partnerships with industry.
The University is one of only four institutions selected to work with the South West Cyber Resilience Centre, which is led by serving police officers, as part of a not-for-profit partnership with business and academia.
Gareth Nelson, senior tutor and Your Future Plan lead for Cyber and Technical Computing at the University, said: “We’re extremely proud to have been selected to work with the South West Cyber Resilience Centre on the Cyber Path scheme.
“The scheme provides our students with opportunities to apply the skills and knowledge they have gained an academic setting in a real-world environment, giving them excellent industry experience ahead of a successful career in the sector.
“At the same time, this important initiative is enabling SMEs to have their cyber security measures thoroughly tested and expertly assessed by the next generation of cyber specialists at an affordable cost.”
