Level 4 Protective Security Qualification

The security threats we face do not come at us in silos or in sequence. Nor is the threat landscape static, it is continuously evolving. So how can we ensure that protective security evolves to meet these challenges? 

NPSA are proud to be part of a community of experts seeking to change the way we think about a converged approach to protective security. Today marks the launch of the Level 4 Protective Security Qualification, which draws on expertise from industry, academia and government to support protective security experts in their professional development. All three National Technical Authorities; NPSA, the UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping and the National Cyber Security Centre have supported the development of this qualification, available as a Level 4 certificate and soon to be available as an Apprenticeship Scheme. 

The four major disciplines of protective security – physical, personnel, technical and cyber – often operate in silos in the real world. This can lead to different teams, under different management, focusing on proprietary risks. However, effective protective security risk management highlights the need for converged solutions to deliver effective mitigation.

This new qualification aims to provide the fundamentals of protective security and lay the foundations towards security convergence. Participants can then specialise in their chosen field with an understanding of how the other three disciplines dovetail to provide security convergence.

The qualification is not designed for a specific role; its aim is to provide a base level of competence following the approach taken by other professions. It will focus on upskilling staff as well as supporting those entering the sector – whether they are new to the workforce or changing career. 

To find out more about this qualification, please visit Education and Learning - Security Institute.