Cyber security experts 'snub GCHQ' - graduate jobs

High attrition rates among graduates specialising in cyber security are threatening the functioning of the country's top secret electronic spy agency, it has been disclosed.

Highly skilled cyber professionals are quitting GCHQ in search of greener pastures as the firm cannot match the wages offered by big players such as Microsoft and Google.

An MPs' panel has expressed concern over the GCHQ's inability to retain "suitable cadre of internet specialists" at a time when the threat of cyber warfare is increasing every passing day.

The Intelligence and Security Committee, a joint panel of Lords and Commons, also slammed the agency for losing track of equipment worth up to £1 million over the past decade.

The majority of the equipment that is untraced posed no security risk, GCHQ said, but it could not confirm the risk perception of 5% of the equipment that is lost.

Copyright Press Association 2011