ISC2 members were among the first recipients of the UK Cyber Security Council’s Chartered Cybersecurity Professional status recognized this week as they received their certificates following assessment by their industry peers.

The event to award Chartered status took place at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) offices in London’s Victoria and was hosted by NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron. Around 50 people from the first cohort receive their certificates of recognition.

Chartered status shows employers, clients and the public that the individual awarded the status is committed to maintaining the knowledge, skills and competence required to meet the cybersecurity challenges and technological needs of today and tomorrow. Chartered status is among the highest professional marks of quality and competence awarded in the U.K. and is also recognized internationally.

The awarding of Chartered Cybersecurity Professional (ChCSP) to certified practitioners comes after an extensive review process that began as a pilot project in 2022 , during which they were assessed to have demonstrated:

  • that they have effective communications and interpersonal skills to operate at all levels within and without an organization, with their peers and those who have little or no knowledge of cyber security.
  • that they have developed effective management skills and are able to demonstrate their ability to lead and mentor groups and individuals in a personal, technical, or business cyber security environment.
  • that they have the highest level of integrity, morals, and ethical values.
  • that they are committed to the continued development of themselves and the cyber security profession.

On receiving Chartered status, the post nominals ChCSP can be used alongside a professional’s name and other certification post nominals. The UK Cyber Security Council received its Royal Charter at the end of 2021, allowing it to commence with its plans to improve the professionalization of the profession through awarding Chartered status for qualifying individuals.

Among the first recipients of the Chartered Cybersecurity Professional accreditation were ISC2 members including Andy Coles, CISSP, ChCSP, CISO at CGG, Shaun van Niekerk, CISSP, ChCSP, Founder and CISO at Steeple Cyber and Neil Breden, CISSP, ChCSP, Global Product Owner - Managed Detection and Response at Fujitsu. They were accompanied in receiving their Chartered status by two of ISC2’s own leadership team members: Jon France, CISSP, ChCSP, CISO of ISC2 and Ed Parsons, CISSP, ChCSP, ISC2 Director for UK and Europe

“ISC2 is supporting the UK Cyber Security Council in its efforts to professionalize cybersecurity in the U.K. I’m grateful to fellow ISC2 members who joined us in applying for chartered status and to volunteer as expert accessors. I’m proud that we’ve been able to support and enable other ISC2 members to be part of the first cohort of Chartered Cybersecurity Professionals,” Parsons said. “It is important that ISC2 is involved in this important landmark in the U.K. profession. We want to ensure our U.K. members can achieve chartered status in a way that is straightforward and reflects the value of the qualifications they already hold while allowing them to prosper in the global market.”

“Chartered status and the chartering program being run by the UK Cyber Security Council is important for the UK cybersecurity workforce. It is a commitment to the continued professionalization of cybersecurity as a career, alongside demonstrating competence and expertise that is beneficial to the marketplace, both in the U.K. as well as internationally,” France added.

The recipients were also joined at the event by several industry speakers including Andrew Elliott, the Deputy Director for Cyber Security at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Stuart Okin, CEO of Cyber Regulation at Ofgem and UK Cyber Security Council CEO Simon Hepburn.

Read more about ISC2’s involvement with the chartering pilot program and the different title levels available to cybersecurity professionals, and the UK Cyber Security Council has a dedicated pages on Chartering including the roadmap for the recognized specialist areas and detailed criteria for the assessment process, who is eligible, along with how to register interest in Chartered status .

 

Photo (left to right):

  • Ed Parsons, CISSP, ChCSP, Director for UK and Europe at ISC2
  • Jon France, CISSP, ChCSP, CISO of ISC2
  • Andy Coles, CISSP, ChCSP, CISO at CGG
  • Shaun van Niekerk, CISSP, ChCSP, Founder and CISO at Steeple Cyber
  • Neil Breden, CISSP, ChCSP, Global Product Owner - Managed Detection and Response at Fujitsu