Bletchley Park, the site of secret code-deciphering projects during World War Two, could become the centre for a new generation of codemakers and codebreakers.
There are plans for a training college to teach cybersecurity skills to 16-19 year olds at the Buckinghamshire site.
Former Home Secretary Lord Reid said it had become vital to build up the "talent pool" for cyber-defence.
The college in a wartime building at Bletchley is intended to open in 2018.
Developed by a not-for-profit group from the cybersecurity industry, it will open as a boarding college, with around 10% of places for day students.
The National College of Cybersecurity will be free to all students it selects as "gifted and talented".
The students would work towards National Qualification Level 3, with 40% of the curriculum devoted to cybersecurity - with extra focus on maths, physics, computer science or economics.