The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) wants to employ more people with autism to help fight off online threats.
Reports suggest the centre believes people with autism could make a key contribution in the battle against cyber attacks.
Security expert Nicola Whiting: she says it’s vital that government bodies lead the way in boosting recruitment of people from neurodiverse backgrounds
The NCSC is an arm of the state security operation at Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ).
Autistic talent
The NCSC’s move reflects attempts elsewhere to adapt workplaces to attract autistic talent.
Technology firms Microsoft, SAP, Hewlett Packard, New Relic, Salesforce, Google, Cable Labs, Hewlett Packard and CollabNet have all looked to boost recruitment of those with autism.
An NCSC spokesperson stressed that “some of society’s most talented and creative people have a neurodiverse profile.
“We put in place support systems that allow such staff to perform at their best and aim to do this without the need for formal diagnosis or the ‘labelling’ of employees.”
Nicola Whiting is the chief strategy officer with cyber security firm Titania. She is also an advocate for autism and women in the cyber industry and advises government on the issue. She herself received a diagnosis of autism around two years ago.
Crucial to lead by example
Whiting said it’s crucial that government bodies such as the NCSC lead by example to help diversify the workforce.
She said: “They have the resources to work out how best to support people and then, more importantly, to share that information with organisations like SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and industry bodies.”
At present, autistic adults are far more likely than the national average to be unemployed. The National Autistic Society suggests that fewer than two in ten (16 per cent) are in full-time paid work. This compares with around one in two (47 per cent) disabled people. Meanwhile, four out of five (80 per cent) of non-disabled people are in full-time employment.
Cyber security strategy a ‘good idea’
One person with autism who became well known for his computer skills is Gary McKinnon, a systems administrator who in 2002 hacked Nasa and US defence department systems. He told Autism Eye that he believed it was a good idea for the NCSC to seek out people with autism “because one common trait amongst us is high focus and recognising strengths and weaknesses of systems”.
But he added: “It’s not something I would help with since I’m busy running my own businesses.”
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Published: 20 September 2018
