With some spies working as data analysts or programmers, and others undertaking remote surveillance or serving as language specialists, there is no specific overarching qualification that will allow you to work in intelligence. What qualifications do you need to be a spy?ĭue to the wide range of tasks that make up modern spying, there is no single set of qualifications that will be required to become an intelligence officer. They are made up of a mixture of military and civilian staff, and their primary duty is to protect the UK by providing military intelligence to help inform decisions by the Government and MoD. Defence Intelligence (DI) - Unlike other intelligence services in the UK, Defence Intelligence is a direct part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).Their focus is on counter-terrorism, disrupting the activites of hostile states, and protecting the UK from cyber attacks from abroad. They work internationally in order to gather intelligence from people and organisations. Military Intelligence, Section 6 (MI6) - Known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), MI6 works to protect the UK, its people, economy and interests from overseas threats.They are also expected to protect parliamentary democracy in the UK. Their role is to protect the country from internal terrorism, espionage, sabotage, and the activities foreign agents, including cyber threats. Military Intelligence, Section 5 (MI5) - MI5, also known as the Security Service, is the domestic counterintelligence and security agency for the UK.

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