IT security professionals have voiced concern over
proposals to use legislation designed for wheel clampers and
bodyguards to regulate security consultants.
The Security Industry Association (SIA), a quango that regulates
workers in physical security industries, said Home Office ministers
were considering whether IT security should be governed by
legislation.
Research is under way to help them decide whether IT security
consultants will need licences to practice. "The exercise is to
scope the security industry and see how wide the legislation is to
be," said an SIA spokesman.
If IT security professionals are classed as security consultants
they will have to undergo identity and criminal record checks, and
reach minimum qualifications.
But independent security consultant Chris Sundt said government
regulation could harm, rather than help, the profession.
"There is a risk the SIA will come up with a licensing regime
that creates more problems than it solves. If the criteria are
weak, people will have a label saying they are qualified security
professionals. It will give a false sense of security," he
said.