IBM will deliver the platform.
The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and the NCSC have partnered with IBM to deliver this year’s CyberFirst Girls competition.
A UK-wide programme open to girls between the ages of 12 and 13, IBM will provide the online platform for the contest. Around 85,00 students have taken part in CyberFirst Girls since its launch in 2017, including 15,000 in the most recent competition.
The competition puts students through a series of cyber challenges from cryptography and networking to artificial intelligence, building up their skills and encouraging them to consider future careers in the field.
Chris Ensor, NCSC deputy director for Cyber Growth, said he was delighted that a new partnership across government and the private sector will be taking forward the delivery of this vital initiative, which is inspiring the next generation of cyber security professionals.
“We need a cyber industry which reflects our diverse society and encourages the most talented individuals to keep our digital lives secure,” he said.
Mark Hughes, IBM global managing partner for cybersecurity, said: “This new collaboration is a significant step towards nurturing the next generation of cyber leaders, ensuring a more inclusive and robust industry. We are confident that this partnership will make a substantial impact in encouraging more young girls to pursue rewarding careers in cybersecurity."
Written by
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with 25 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 17 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Forum, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and the National Cyber Security Show, and served as editor of SC Media UK, Infosecurity Magazine and IT Security Guru. He was also an analyst with 451 Research and a product marketing lead at Tenable.
