Bill Gates backs Crest fintech security scheme for Africa and Asia
.jpg)
UK-based cyber security accreditation and certification non-profit Crest has been awarded a $1.4m grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to expand cyber security capacity for fintechs in Africa and Asia
The UK-based organisation’s rigorous assessments are designed to provide reassurance that its member companies have a demonstrable level of assurance that they can provide their own clients with a robust assessment of their security posture.
This is particularly relevant to the financial services industry, which is digitising as rapidly in the global south as it is in the world’s most advanced economies. In many countries, organisations are skipping straight to mobile banking as 4G networks are often far more reliable and widespread than fixed ones.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has – as previously reported – been working extensively to improve access to financial services among some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.
Crest said that while robust growth, adoption and usage of digital financial services by people who were previously unbanked helped provide the means to participate in the formal financial sector, capture income generating opportunities and smooth consumption through access to savings and other financial products, this also introduced new cyber risks that must be managed.
“Every country across the world is under increasing threats from cyber crime. This project will help build stronger cyber security capacity in eight fast-developing countries,” said Crest president Ian Glover.
“The grant is recognition of the work Crest has already done in the UK and other countries such as Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and North America. It will support a dedicated research capability within Crest and help to build a robust model that can also be applied to other regions,” he said.
Crest will use its funding in part to support threat intelligence-led system penetration testing through its ecosystem of trusted accredited providers, raising standards, defining measurement frameworks and improving security capability and consistency for financial services organisations.
It will also work with a number of local regulators to promote a more secure and resilient digital infrastructure for banking and financial services, advising on local standards for testing and securing critical national infrastructure, building on work already done in countries such as Canada, Singapore, the UK and US.
Finally, it will help to build the capacity of local private sector cyber security companies to deliver managed services in accordance with globally accepted standards and processes through Crest’s training and accreditation programmes.
The ultimate goal will be to help both the security industry and the financial industry professionalise and mature in the scheme’s target countries, which are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The funding will run for the next two years, beginning with a period of research and market analysis phase for each target country.
Crest said it hoped to establish five or more accredited member companies in each market, and deliver 100 fully funded exams for cyber security professionals, 200 more with 50% funding.
source computerweekly
Industry: Cyber Security
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote)
- London
- N/A
-
Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote) We are seeking an experienced technical Security Consultant to help clients deploy and enhance their cyber defences across Microsoft and vulnerability management technologies. You will work with enterprise customers to deliver tailored solutions across threat detection, endpoint protection and exposure management, ensuring security platforms are efficient, integrated and aligned with operational goals. Whilst you won't do the design yourself- you will work alongside technical Presales to document, agree and then deliver the solution. You will have experience leading delivery the implementation and improvement projects, providing hands-on support with configuration, integration and optimisation. You will assess existing environments, recommend enhancements and guide clients on best practice to strengthen visibility and control. Strong experience with SIEM, XDR and vulnerability tooling (Microsoft & Tenable ecosystems ideal) Understanding of Azure security, identity and access controls Background in consulting or project-based cyber delivery Clear communication skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders Extra points if you have the SC-100. You must be eligible to achieve UK Security Clearance to be considered for this role.
-
- Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting | UK - South East
- London
- N/A
-
Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting - Financial Services | UK - South East. New Role due to Growth We are looking for an experienced Account Director to develop and expand existing relationships across the financial services sector, working with investment firms, asset managers, private equity groups and strategic partners to deliver intelligent cyber consulting and a bespoke Cyber product offerings. You will act as a trusted advisor, helping organisations strengthen digital resilience, manage third-party and regulatory risk and adopt a proactive approach to cyber assurance. Key Responsibilities Manage a defined portfolio of financial clients, understanding business priorities and aligning tailored cyber solutions. Drive new client engagement while nurturing existing partnerships through a consultative, long-term approach. Present the benefits of advanced cyber services including threat intelligence, vulnerability management, incident readiness, and continuous risk monitoring. Collaborate with technical and delivery teams to ensure smooth engagement from proposal through to implementation and ongoing support. Prepare proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and clearly articulate value and business outcomes. Build trusted relationships at senior and board level. Ideal Profile Strong background in cybersecurity, consulting, or risk management within financial services. Skilled communicator with proven success managing and growing key accounts. Able to translate complex technical insight into commercial and strategic value for clients. Confident engaging with senior stakeholders and decision makers. Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London
- London
- N/A
-
SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London New opportunity created through continued growth. We’re looking for a SOC Analyst (Level 2) to strengthen a growing managed security team. You’ll work hands-on with Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR, investigating alerts, responding to incidents, and helping improve how clients stay protected. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys unravelling security events, thinking critically under pressure, and making a real difference day to day. What you’ll do · Investigate and respond to security activity across SIEM and endpoint tools · Analyse network and log data to uncover real threats · Support automation initiatives to streamline response processes · Help maintain visibility, data flow, and performance across SOC platforms What you’ll need · Practical experience using Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR · Confident working with KQL or similar query languages · Understanding of attacker tactics and response techniques · SC-200 certifications would be nice. · Experience supporting multiple customer environments Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- Senior SOC Engineer - UK - New role due to growth
- London
- N/A
-
Senior SOC Engineer – New role due to growth We are hiring a Senior SOC Engineer to take the lead across security operations for a growing managed service. You will lead detection, response and onboarding activity across multiple clients, helping shape how the SOC evolves. Expect variety; from fine-tuning alerts and threat hunting to supporting customers and mentoring junior analysts. What you’ll bring · Strong experience across SIEM, EDR, and threat detection tools · Confident working with customers in a managed service environment · Skilled in scripting or query languages such as KQL or PowerShell · Knowledge of frameworks like NIST, ISO27001, MITRE ATT&CK · Calm communicator with a problem-solving mindset · Experience with Azure Lighthouse or delegated access models · Prior involvement in automation or SOC improvement projects Location: South East England- Hybrid role Please note: Sponsorship cannot be offered now or in the future.