New approach to cyber skills gives UK employers exclusive access to 40 most talented cyber-defenders
- SANS’ first Recruitment Fair offers unparalleled access to the UK’s best employment–ready cyber security talent, selected from over 24,000 candidates
- Initiative designed for direct and immediate impact on organisations’ cyber skills gap
The first ever SANS Cyber Academy Recruitment Fair will offer employers a unique chance to meet the 40 highest-potential cyber defenders the UK has to offer, who are fully trained and ready to start in cyber security roles.
The students have been carefully selected by SANS, the world’s largest and most trusted source of information security training, from over 24,000 candidates. Each will be provided with world-class cyber security training, ensuring they are ready to add value from the moment they start work.
The Fair will take place in October, mid-way through the candidates’ training, where employers will have a chance to meet and interview these cyber elite. Corporate and government employers can register their interest from today.
Steve Jones, UK Managing Director of SANS, says: “Organisations have become frustrated by the time it takes to find new cyber security talent, and with the costly process of training new staff, only to have them take their skills elsewhere just as they start delivering value.”
“So we’ve flipped the recruitment model on its head, acting as a filter for employers, identifying the very best candidates in the country, and training them to a level where they are ready to deliver value from the moment they walk through the door. By doing so, we are allowing organisations that are short on cyber skills to recruit new starters who are able to contribute immediately.”
The rigorous selection process started with a specially designed Skills and Aptitude Assessment created by SANS cyber experts and trainers and open to all. Of the 24,000+ assessments submitted, 200 candidates were invited to formerly apply for the Academy and attend a series of interviews assessing both existing skillsets and their enthusiasm for working in areas with significant cyber skills gaps.
The SANS Recruitment Fair will take place in October, by which time all 40 candidates – a mix of recent graduates, cyber enthusiasts and military leavers – will be close to graduating from the prestigious SANS Cyber Academy, where they will receive bespoke training matched directly to current industry and government skills requirements. This will include three internationally renowned SANS courses and three GIAC certifications.
Employers who register will be given early access to anonymised profiles of each candidate based on their skills and aptitude assessment, interviews and CV, so they can review suitability for specific roles before attending the Fair.
Jones adds: “Not only have we done the hard work of finding the absolute cream of the crop in cyber talent, we are giving them training it would take most employees two years to acquire. These are very desirable prospects for any employer”.
About SANS Cyber Academy
SANS Cyber Academy is a unique programme designed to meet widening demand from enterprise and government for skilled security professionals.
Through intensive, residential training SANS Cyber Academy creates polished and deployable security professionals in just eight weeks. To create professionals of comparable quality and skill, the traditional graduate recruitment and training process would typically take around two years.
Cyber Academy runs annually. Each intake offers a limited number of places, and aims to propel the very best prospective candidates into an exciting career in cyber security.
Cyber Academy also offers employers an opportunity to recruit new professionals who can be deployed immediately into mission-critical roles.
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