The North East and East Midlands have been highlighted as showing the greatest growth in cyber security in the latest DCMS report ‘Cyber security sectoral analysis 2022.’ Whilst the number of businesses in the region is still relatively low compared to London and the South East, the region has seen a growth in active local offices from 2% to 3% of the national total.

The sector is going from strength to strength as new government data shows more than 1,800 cyber security firms generated a total of £10.1bn in revenue in the most recent financial year, up 14% on the previous year.

Split across 117 active offices, the report estimates that there are over 1,000 employees working in cyber security in the region with an average salary of £46,500.

You can read the full report here

We have three events planned over the next month or so, with several more in the pipeline. The aim is to have some meetup each month:

• March 10 - Cyber Security Providers Meetup - 11:00 to 13:00 at Aspire Technology Solutions, Gateshead. In this round table discussion we will talk about what needs to be done to deliver growth and how individual businesses can cooperate and collaborate to drive such growth. This event is open only to cyber security businesses with a North East location. A light lunch will be included. Tickets can be found here.
• March 23 - ‘Student and Business Meetup’ - 12:00 to 13:00 online, jointly hosted by Durham University and the National Cyber Security Centre. In this event, you will hear from 3 businesses operating in the region, showcasing the dynamic and innovative work they are involved in. This online event is open to students with an interest in cyber security. Tickets can be found here.
• April 6 ‘Net Zero and Cyber Security' - 17:30 - 20:30, Sunderland Software City. Net Zero and connected communities will drive change in society over the coming decades but how can we make sure it is secure? This event brings the region’s Smart Cities, energy management and cyber security expertise together to explore arising issues and commercial opportunities. This event is open to anyone with an interest in Net Zero, Connected Communities and Cyber security. Tickets can be found here.

CyberNorth, through UKC3 is working closely with the the UK Cyber Security Council on its work in:

• Career Pathways – a review of work associated with identifying the current and presenting future plans to help develop the Cyber Security educational pathways;
• Standards – a review of work to date and how this will relate to the 16 identified cyber security specialisms and how this will support work towards chartered status and chartered status licensing

A government consultation is currently underway on “Embedding Standards and Pathways Across The Cyber Profession by 2025” and the UK Cyber Security Council is holding tow virtual roadshows to share thoughts and get feedback on its work to date. The first is on the consultation on 15 March and the second is on the pathways and standards on 18th March

We’re planning for #CyberFest 22 which will start on 1 September 2022 with a three day BSides Newcastle event. We are also bringing our successful cyber security and art project back for its third year.

We are looking for participants from companies with an interest in cyber security to work with creative practitioners on the conjunction of art, technical and creativity to explore perspectives, visions and understanding of cyber security. The aim of the intervention is to leave participating businesses with a new creative way to think about their business and represent its values.

Once again, there has never been a greater time to investigate the role of creativity and the arts in cyber security. You can find out more about Cyber Eyes Wide Open 21 here.

CyberNorth is Dynamo North East’s cybersecurity cluster, supported by Accenture, the Innovation Supernetwork and recognised by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the National Cybersecurity Centre as representing the region. 

CyberNorth is working to support all organisations across the regional cybersecurity ecosystem including seventy cybersecurity service suppliers, support services providers, consumers of cybersecurity services, academia, government, other public sectors including blue light organisations, media and policy makers. 

The cluster’s aim is to position the North East as a great place to deliver cybersecurity services, you can follow us on Twitter @north_biz

Last month’s newsletter can be found here. 

If you would like any further information on the contents of this newsletter, or any other related issue then please contact me, Phil Jackman at info@dynamonortheast.co.uk

DYNAMO MEMBERSHIP

Finally, Dynamo North East is a business focused organisation that is working to grow the tech economy across the North East. It is doing this in three ways: by making a lot of noise about the region through events, supporting inward investment and building clusters. If you are interested in being part of this movement, details of membership are here.