5 minute read
Brendan Drain
Columnist
Brendan Drain,
Sync NI
Techie Talk Time
Sync NI’s Brendan Drain looks at the UK’s cyber security industry, which is now estimated to be worth £8.3bn, and discusses why Northern Ireland is quickly becoming a global cyber security hub.
The tech sector in Northern Ireland has practically exploded over the past two years, and few industries have seen as much growth as the local cyber security scene. The UK-wide focus on innovation and research in tech has led to a 44% rise in the number of cyber security companies in the country from 2017 to the end of 2019.
Northern Ireland’s reasonable wages and high levels of tech qualification have led several global companies to invest heavily in the region for their cyber security needs already, and there’s more on the way. Here are three major investments in cyber security centres recently announced for Northern Ireland:
Major US health insurance company Aflac has been eyeing up Northern Ireland as the future home for its upcoming investment in cyber security, and plans officially moved forward this February. The firm signed a 10-year lease with Belfast Harbour to create the new Global IT and Cybersecurity Innovation Centre at City Quays, with plans to create 130 jobs in the 11,000 sq. ft. office space by 2023.
Aflac is headquartered in Georgia in the United States, and it currently employs around 4,700 employees in the US and 11,000 globally. It’s ranked 143 on the Fortune 500 list and was recognised by Fortune Magazine in 2018 as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the US for the 20th consecutive year.
The Belfast cyber security centre will work closely with the firm’s cyber security and innovation teams in the US and Japan, and the average salary of the upcoming jobs is expected to be around £45,000 as part of the multi-million-pound investment in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre officially opened its doors this year, promoting collaboration across the public, private and community sectors to ensure everyone has access to the cyber security tools and knowledge they need. The centre is based in the Queen’s Centre for Secure IT in the Titanic Quarter and will help the NI government deliver its new strategic framework for cyber security.
The centre will play a key role in ensuring businesses and citizens are better informed regarding protecting their computer systems and safeguarding data. It will work closely with key partners such as the UK National Cyber Security Centre, the PSNI Cyber Crime Unit, local cyber security firms, and Northern Ireland’s universities.
National Cyber Security Centre CEO Ciaran Martin expects that the new centre will help bolster the digital resilience and strength of the whole community in Northern Ireland. He explained that “At the NCSC we look forward to working closely with our Northern Ireland counterparts as we develop ground-breaking new products and services to help all of us meet the fast-evolving cyber threats.”
NI Cyber Security Centre Microsoft’s upcoming Cyber Security Centre
Microsoft announced plans in January to open a new Belfast-based cyber security centre and create 85 new tech sector jobs. The new centre will provide cyber security support for Microsoft’s largest enterprise customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and it represents a significant investment from Microsoft in Northern Ireland’s cyber security industry.
The local sector has grown significantly over the past several years, and the number of qualified graduates and experienced cyber security workers isn’t keeping up with the demand. Microsoft’s new Cyber Security Centre will be taking advantage of the Assured Skills Academy programme to help with recruitment by encouraging graduates to re-skill into the field.
The academy is operated by Belfast Met and is open to anyone with a 2:2 degree or above in any discipline, or anyone with a Level 5 qualification in an IT-related subject. The scheme will pay attendees to take the course and retrain in cyber security skills, and everyone who completes the course will automatically get a job interview with Microsoft for one of the open positions.
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BUSINESS LEADERS PLEDGE THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Diversity Mark NI team with the latest Diversity Charter Mark Award winners; IQ & Co, MJM Marine, NIE Networks, fscom and Exploristics.
Dr Bryan Keating CBE, Tanya Martin, Angela Forsythe and Christine White.
Paul Stapleton, NIE Networks and Judith Gillespie CBE, Diversity Mark Independent Assessor.
Dr Bryan Keating CBE, Paula Leathem, Paul Stapleton and Christine White.
Diversity Mark NI celebrated the success of their members at a prestigious Awards Lunch last month hosted by Ulster Bank. Companies recognised at the event included NIE Networks, MJM Marine, fscom, IQ & Co and Exploristics. These award-winning organisations were applauded for their commitment to building fair and inclusive workplaces and they were presented with the Bronze Diversity Charter Mark – a public declaration of their commitment to Diversity & Inclusion.
Judith Gillespie CBE, former Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI spoke passionately to the group about her voluntary role as an independent assessor for Diversity Mark NI. She explained the many reasons why she believes it is imperative for companies to work towards achieving the Charter Mark to build diverse and inclusive workplaces reflective of our society. Dr Bryan Keating CBE, Diversity Mark NI vice-chair also spoke at the event highlighting his personal reasons for being involved and his passion for championing Diversity due to the vast business benefits to companies of all sizes in attaining the Charter Mark.
Diversity Mark NI Ltd is NI’s only independent, not-for-profit Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark with over seventy members working towards achieving and maintaining the now highly regarded, Charter Mark.
If you are interested in pledging your company’s commitment to the Diversity Charter Mark visit: www.diversity-mark-ni.co.uk or contact Christine White: christine@diversity-mark-ni.co.uk.
