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Government Releases National Cyber Security Strategy
Chancellor announces £1.9bn cyber investment to make the UK the safest place to do business online
The Government yesterday launched its new National Cyber Security Strategy. The Strategy, underpinned by £1.9bn investment, sets out how the UK will use automated defences to defend citizens and businesses against growing cyber threats, support the UK’s growing cyber security industry, develop a world-class cyber workforce and deter cyber-attacks from criminals and hostile actors.
The Strategy can be summarised in three key parts:
Defence:
The strategy sets out how government will strengthen its own defences as well as making sure industry takes the right steps to protect the critical national infrastructure in sectors like energy and transport. This will be done in partnership with industry and will make use of automated defence techniques to reduce the impact of cyber-attacks by hackers, stopping viruses and spam emails ever reaching their intended victims, for example.
Deter:
Significant investment in the Strategy goes towards taking the fight to those who threaten Britain in cyber-space and relentlessly pursuing anyone who persists in attacking the UK. This will be done in part through strengthening law enforcement capabilities to raise the cost of cyber-crime, building international partnerships and being clear that the UK will defend itself in cyberspace and strike back against those that try to harm our country.
Develop:
The new plan places strong emphasis on developing the nation's capabilities to keep pace with cyber threats. Through the Strategy, Government will increase investment in the next generation of students and experts through a new Cyber Security Research Institute - a virtual collection of UK universities which will look to improve the security of smart phones, tablets and laptops through fraters that could one day make passwords obsolete.
This builds on a range of cutting edge skills and education initiatives, including cyber apprentices, retraining schemes and an advanced cyber security teaching in schools, which are already being developed.
Government is also creating the UK’s first cyber security Innovation Centre in Cheltenham, a Cyber Innovation Centre in London as well as a Cyber Innovation Fund next year to develop innovate technologies and products. The Strategy also focuses funding on training and support for cyber start-ups and academics to help them commercialise cutting edge research and attract investment from the private sector.
techUK Response
This is a hugely important announcement which makes it clear that cyber security will be at the heart of the UK’s industrial strategy. It is absolutely vital that Britain’s businesses are cyber secure. Two-thirds of large businesses have suffered a cyber breach in the past year. The most common attacks are easily prevented if companies adopt basic precautionary measures. This comprehensive new strategy will help businesses take responsibility for their security, help to grow the UK’s cyber security capabilities and ensure that UK law enforcement has the resources and capabilities it needs to meet new threats head on.
The National Cyber Security Centre is there to provide businesses with the advice and support they’ll need to stay secure. Meanwhile, the two new Cyber Innovation Centres will help us grow our own cyber defence capabilities and ensure that the UK remains home to the very best cyber security expertise. The new Cyber Security Research Institute helps us understand emerging threats and create a cyber-skilled workforce.
Commenting on this Julian David, CEO, techUK said: “Although we have some of the best cyber security capabilities in the world, we cannot be complacent about the evolving cyber threat. This new strategy is a robust and comprehensive response from Government to the growing cyber threats that we face. It is now time for businesses across the country to step up and play their part in keeping their businesses and the UK as a whole secure.”
The full strategy can be downloaded below. If you have any further questions about the strategy, or techUK's Cyber Security Group, then please contact Talal Rajab
techUK will be issuing a more detailed summary of the strategy in due course.
