These sources are
looking to bring down our national defences, our energy supplies and our
economy at the click of a button. Jim Murphy, shadow defence secretary stated
that cyber security is now the “arms race of the 21st century”. Britain is one of the most
targeted countries in the cybercrime world, making them react with a new type
of army to defend it.
In 2010, a competition
was set up called the Cyber
Security Challenge UK to
find the UK’s most talent young security experts. There were more than 4000
applications and winners were awarded an Apple iPad 3 and more importantly internships,
placement opportunities from biggest security companies in the country.
Lucy Robson, 19 years
old, won the challenge and is currently one of recruits defending the UK. She
is being trained by Qinetiq, the Ministry of Defence’s former research arm. She
said “it was apparent that I was the only female there”. There is a large gap
between males and females in the IT industry as mentioned in a previous post.
Only 8% of women entered the competition; she also added that “it’s never put
me off and I’m not sure why there aren’t more female applicants because it is
such an interesting job”. It is estimated that the total cost to
the British economy due to cybercrime is £27 billion a year (BBC).