Defence Security Events

Wanted: Gamers to keep us all safe online

Posted 20 September 2019

QinetiQ and the British Esports Association are teaming up to raise awareness of the common skills between cyber security professionals and esports players during a special event at the Science Museum in London on Wednesday 25th September from 6:45pm to 10pm.

Courtesy QinetiQ

The cyber security industry needs people. Esports is on the rise. The natural aptitudes that make gamers and cyber professionals good at their jobs are incredibly similar. Could the future of our online security come from the exploding world of competitive video gaming?

Firms like QinetiQ are looking to the digital-savyy gaming community for the next generation of security talent. Attendees at the event will be able to find out how gaming can facilitate career pathways in the world of cyber security and the wider tech sphere.

QinetiQ has one of the world’s longest established cyber defence teams. We protect our customers’ critical infrastructure, improve their digital resilience and support their staff to overcome the challenges presented from evolving technologies and cyber threats.

British Esports is a not-for-profit national body established in 2016 to promote esports in the UK, increase its level of awareness, improve standards and inspire future talent.

As part of QinetiQ's partnership with the Science Museum and sponsorship of their Top Secret exhibition, it is joining the Science Museum Lates adults-only, after-hours theme nights on the 25th September to deliver an interactive yet informative free event.

Alongside interactive activities including live video gaming (Rocket League), virtual reality and lock picking, QinetiQ will also be discussing video gamers’ skills and capabilities and how they are very similar to the skills wanted in cyber security.

For example, part of a cyber security expert’s job is being able to work with large data sets which requires an excellent attention to detail. Similarly gamers have been proven to be highly attentive when playing against their opponent. This is brought about by the player's need to achieve certain objectives within the game.

David Viola, Ethical Security Tester at QinetiQ, said: “As an avid gamer and cyber security professional, I’ve often recognised the skills from one translate strongly into the other.

Whether I’ve been running a 5 man team through an online dungeon, or leading a team of cyber security professionals in evading defenders as we test the security of a customer’s environment; the skill to combine passion, planning and knowledge together in a balanced, and coordinated fashion, never changes.

Chester King, CEO of the British Esports Association, said: “We’re excited to partner with QinetiQ and explore the parallels between esports and cyber security and how it may be a career path for gamers.

“Rocket League is a great way of engaging an audience and we look forward to seeing many of you getting involved on the night.”

Find out more about the skills in common between cyber security professionals and esports players, here.

If you are interested in a cyber security career at QinetiQ, visit the recruitment page, here

To find out more and register to attend this free event, click here .