Uploaded on 2025-03-30 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, GOVERNMENT-Defence, FREE TO VIEW

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is stepping up the recruitment of cybersecurity specialists to help combat the growing threat to national security.

The new bespoke entry route for those looking to pursue a career as cyber-professionals in the UK Armed Forces will see their basic training more than halved from 10 weeks to around one month.

The scheme - announced in February - is the latest government action to tackle skills shortages in the armed forces. And for those who sign up, the importance of the work they are about to undertake cannot be overstated.

A Fast-Tracked Path To cyberdefence

At the end of 2024, the Head of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Richard Horne, gave his first major speech to emphasise the need for sustained vigilance in an increasingly aggressive online world.

Speaking at the launch of the NCSC’s Annual Review, Richard Horne described the cyber-risks facing the UK and warned that Britain and its allies are competing in a “high-stakes contest for cyberspace.”

“Hostile activity in UK cyberspace has increased in frequency, sophistication, and intensity,” said Horne.” We see this in the intelligence we can access by being part of GCHQ. Actors are increasingly using our technology dependence against us, seeking to cause maximum disruption and destruction,” he said.

While risk levels are rising, these fast-tracked recruits are also entering a rapidly evolving sector. The problem is not just external threats - the IT landscape is becoming increasingly challenging.

A recent SolarWinds survey of UK IT professionals in the public sector, including defence, found that integrating cloud and hybrid IT infrastructures made them more complex to manage. The report, UK Next-Gen Government IT: AI and Observability Insights, explained that complexity ranks as the second most pressing obstacle to maintaining or improving IT security after budgetary constraints.

Rising Threats Demand Urgent Action

Against this backdrop, the recruits will take up their positions on the front line. So, what technology will they use to address these issues? Organisations are increasingly turning to continuous monitoring tools that detect and respond to threats in real time, constantly surveying critical systems while scanning for any anomalies or potential breaches.

Similarly, automated system updates and patches safeguard against known vulnerabilities, while AI-driven automation is increasingly vital in ensuring patches are deployed. By automating this process, security teams can focus on more complex threats while maintaining a robust, defensive posture against known vulnerabilities.

AI & Automation Are The New Frontline

Of course, advanced analytics and machine learning are increasingly being used to predict and identify potential threats. These technologies allow cybersecurity specialists to sift through vast amounts of data, detecting patterns and anomalies that might indicate a cyber threat.

These tools are on the front line of defence in any IT environment—not only the Armed Forces. However, as these new entrants progress throughout their careers and take on further responsibilities, they may be called upon to think more strategically.

This could include adopting a Secure by Design approach, which integrates security measures from the outset of any project rather than adding them later. This approach embeds security into digital systems during development instead of retrofitting as an afterthought.

Those who go on to join the top brass may be tasked with improving collaboration and information at the highest levels, working as a conduit between government agencies, private sector organisations, and international allies.

Only by sharing threat intelligence and coordinating responses can organisations—whether in the armed forces, government, or the private sector—hope to bolster their collective defence capabilities. This helps critical information reach the right people at the right time to prevent or mitigate attacks.

Of course, these reflections are unlikely to be on the minds of those recruits about to embark on a new career. It’s clear though, by fast-tracking the recruitment and training of cybersecurity specialists, the MoD has taken a positive step, assuring its cybersecurity teams are properly staffed to handle increasingly sophisticated threats.

Richard Giblin is Head of UK Public Sector and Defence at SolarWinds

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