CESG Certified Training rebranded as GCHQ Certified Training

CESG Certified Training (CCT) was established in November 2014 to deliver training which satisfies the high standards set by CESG, the information security arm of GCHQ. APMG International has announcing that the scheme has been rebranded as GCHQ Certified Training (GCT).

Effective as of 1 January 2016, the name change has been enacted to drive market recognition of the scheme and improve access to professional and relevant cyber security training.

APMG is GCHQ's independent Certification Body, responsible for ensuring Training Providers meet GCHQ standards. GCT helps professionals and organisations navigate the increasingly saturated cyber training market and quickly identify training courses that meet the highest standards of both content and delivery.

GCT certifies high-quality cyber security training and trainers and is based on the IISP Skills Framework. This includes training suitable for those aspiring to certification under the CESG Certified Professional (CCP) scheme. The criteria for GCT are also aligned with the standards GCHQ uses for the GCHQ Certified Cyber Security Master's degrees.

CCT has been rebranded as GCT in recognition that GCHQ is a more widely known brand and is already used to certify cyber security Master's degrees and to recognise high quality cyber security research. The instantly recognisable brand of GCHQ will increase awareness of the scheme for those working within cyber security, ultimately improving the availability of, and access to, cyber security training that is fit-for-purpose.

A GCHQ spokesperson commented: "One of the biggest challenges for the UK in cyberspace is developing enough skilled people. Vital to building cyber skills is having relevant and high quality cyber security training. GCHQ Certified Training helps to deliver that by providing confidence in cyber security training providers and the courses they offer.''

Commenting on the name change, Richard Pharro, CEO of APMG, said: "GCHQ is widely recognised as the preeminent authority on cyber intelligence and data security, which is why we fully support changing the name of the scheme. By bringing CCT under the GCHQ banner, training providers that have certified against the scheme will benefit greatly from the rebranding and it will make it easier for end users to better understand what the certification signifies: quality, assurance and security."

Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Templar Executives, which was one of the first training companies to have achieved CCT certification for its courses, added: "The rebranding to GCT is a positive step for training providers and clients. In a market with a plethora of products, the GCHQ brand immediately helps delegates recognise which training and trainers have been rigorously assessed to deliver the highest quality learning and development, reflecting best practice in cyber security."

Sarah Rudge, Manager Information Assurance at Ofqual (the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation), found the GCT-certified course that she recently attended to be of a high quality, confirming the scheme's value in the market.

Sarah commented: "I can't recommend highly enough the information risk management course from Ultima Risk Management, which has been certified under the GCT scheme. I found it to be the perfect mix of tuition and practical exercises. It was so refreshing to find a course which is so relevant and directly applicable to my work."