Wanted. Top infosec pros willing to defend Britain on shabby salaries

Wanted. Top infosec pros willing to defend Britain on shabby salaries

October 29, 2024 at 02:33AM

The UK’s GCHQ is struggling to attract cyber security talent due to low pay compared to the private sector. Job offers for roles at GCHQ range from £41,935 to £50,937, while private firms can pay significantly more. To attract top talent, GCHQ may need to offer competitive salaries. Applications close November 4.

### Meeting Takeaways:

1. **Competitive Salary Concerns**:
– The UK’s intelligence, security, and cyber agency, Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), is struggling to compete with the private sector for talent due to lower salary offerings.

2. **Current Job Advertisements**:
– GCHQ is seeking candidates for two key roles:
– Lead Cyber Security Expert: Annual salary of £41,935 ($54,408)
– Senior Cyber Security Expert: Annual salary of £50,937 ($66,085) plus a London Allowance of £6,250 ($8,109) and potential skills payment.

3. **Role Descriptions and Requirements**:
– Positions involve practical, technical functions including:
– Software development
– System configuration and testing
– Security analysis for software and hardware
– Candidates must possess skills in:
– Hardware/software security
– System/device security architectures
– Familiarity with IT platforms and networking
– Cryptography

4. **Private Sector Comparisons**:
– Entry-level cyber security positions at companies like Unilever start at £35,000 ($45,400) with additional benefits.
– Senior positions in the private sector, such as IT Security Manager at BAE, can earn up to £75,000 ($97,000), with high salaries increasingly common for skilled roles.

5. **Notable Advantages of GCHQ**:
– Unique opportunity to defend the nation from within the UK’s cyber security hub, although this may come at a personal cost regarding job confidentiality.

6. **Recommendation for Improvement**:
– To attract top security talent, it may be necessary for GCHQ to offer salaries that align more closely with market rates, as current offerings appear insufficient.

7. **Application Deadline**:
– Interested candidates must submit their applications by Monday, November 4.

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