SANS Institute Supports Thriving Welsh Cyber Ecosystem By Bringing World-Leading Cyber Security Training to Cardiff for First Time

Week-long Cardiff event to increase accessibility of SANS cyber security training for businesses and organisations that are part of the Cyber Wales Ecosystem

SANS Institute, the global leader in cyber security training and certifications, is hosting its first ever live training event in Cardiff from 30 September to 5 October 2019. 

The move recognises what has been a well-kept secret for several years – Wales has a thriving cyber ecosystem, with large companies like Airbus, Thales, BT, AML, and General Dynamics, and indeed SANS itself, choosing to locate either their European headquarters or significant cyber operations in and around South Wales. A number of cyber focused military units are also based in Wales, and the area around Newport is home to large government organisations such as Companies House, the Passport office, and the Office for National Statistics, with the DVLA further West in Swansea, all of which process vast quantities of UK citizens’ data and have a high level of responsibility to keep that data safe.

The recent launch of Airbus’ new state-of-the-art cyber innovation hub, in Newport and Thales’ new National Digital Exploitation Centre in the Valleys have both further highlighted Wales’ cyber security prominence and reputation for cyber excellence. And there is a strong academic focus in South Wales on cyber security with Cardiff and Swansea universities and the University of South Wales boasting significant cyber security teaching functions and centres for excellence.

Cyber Wales is the largest cyber security cluster of its kind in the UK and the South Wales cluster has members from over 400 companies with a cyber security focus from the area. These range from big organisations like Airbus to the many cyber security focused SMEs that have grown up in South Wales. It also includes among its members representation from Welsh Government, universities, military and police.

Stephen Jones, SANS MD for the UK and Nordics, says: ‘All of this cyber activity in South Wales means that there is a significant need to develop cyber talent in the region and keep current the skills of those already working in the cyber industry in Wales. It’s a perfect time for us to launch SANS Cardiff, which will enable security professionals in the region to further develop their skills and knowledge, extending South Wales’ cyber threat capabilities.” 

John Davies, Co-founder and Chair of Cyber Wales, adds: “Cyber Wales is underpinning Wales’ mission to be recognised on the global stage for creating and adopting solutions to significant cyber security challenges, ensuring a flourishing cyber ecosystem. We therefore welcome the move by SANS to support the local economy and extend its world-renowned training to Wales”.

Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, sums it up: “The world is changing rapidly and skills in cyber security will be vital for any organisation to consider itself fit for the future. Public bodies in Wales now have duties under the Future Generations Act to ensure that they are planning for the long term. Ensuring their own workforce is well equipped with the right skills for the future will be a key part of this, as well as recognising the opportunities to the wider economy that could be achieved by developing the capacity of Wales as a nation to meet the demand for these skills.”

The three courses running at SANS Cardiff are:

SEC401: Security Essentials Bootcamp Style– Ross Bergman

SEC560: Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking– Adrien de Beaupre

FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis– Mike Pilkington