Security Cleared IT jobs are found in many government organisations such as the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces as well as selected private organisations handling highly sensitive information – from aerospace to energy, IT and engineering.
We've put together a guide for IT professionals, graduates and contractors who want to find out more about security clearance and how to obtain it:
Vetting provides a certain level of assurance as to an individual's suitability to have trusted access to that sensitive information. Essentially this means background checks and a vetting process, where the more restricted the information/area the deeper and more rigorous the checks.
In general IT professionals with Security Clearance accreditations are in demand across the board – especially with a current shortage in the UK. The rewards include excellent salary levels, job security, the increased advantage of being considered for a position, and greater job opportunity – being Security Cleared can open doors to many employment options that may not have been opened otherwise.
What jobs need security clearance?
The security clearance system applies to IT workers in the following categories whose employment involves:
- Access to sensitive Government assets, Crown servants, members of the security and intelligence agencies;
- Members of the armed forces;
- The police;
- Employees of certain other non-government organisations that are obliged to comply with the Government’s security procedures;
- Employees of contractors providing goods and services to the Government
A number of government departments and organisations routinely require Security Clearance.
- Central Government
- Ministry of Defence
- Home Office
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Ministry of Justice
- Office of National Statistics
- NATO
- Metropolitan Police Service
Who carries out security clearance checks?
The main industry bodies carrying out security clearance checks include:
- The Defence Vetting Agency (DVA)
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
- Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
- National Security Vetting
Security Clearance is granted for a specific period of time depending on the employment term or for a particular project – it is not granted indefinitely, however typically standard clearance will last for approximately 12 months after the project. If you re-join a security cleared post within 12 months there is usually no need to go through the process again.
All security clearances are kept under review to ensure that the necessary level of assurance is maintained. This review is carried out by Government Departments and Government-sponsored contractors, who are responsible for the oversight and aftercare of individuals granted a security clearance.
Registering your CV on CWJobs.co.uk will make your details available via our CV database to the hundreds of companies who are actively seeking candidates with Security Cleared status. Log on today and see what Security Cleared opportunities in IT are out there.
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