The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is funding a new organisation that will set standards and advise on education and career paths in the cyber security sector.

The UK Cyber Security Council, which will be formally launched on 31 March, aims to give cyber security a similar status to professions such as engineering. Its work will include accrediting courses and qualifications run by training providers and working to increase the number and diversity of those working in this area.

The council has been established following a consultation run by DCMS in 2018 which showed strong support for a new professional body. The department said the council will work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, a division of GCHQ.

The council’s first chair is Claudia Natanson, who has served as the Department for Work and Pensions’ chief security officer. She has also worked in the private sector as managing director of BT Secure Business Service and chief information security officer of Diageo.

“Having spent many years in cyber security, I’m very aware of the excellent work done by many varied organisations – but I’m also conscious that the time for an umbrella organisation has come in order to drive the profession forward in a unified way,” Natanson said.

Other board members include Jessica Figueras, a technology market strategist; Carla Baker, a senior director for policy and government affairs for Palo Alto Networks; and Mike Watson, chief financial officer of judicial services group Marston Holdings.