UK National Cybersecurity Strategy making ‘Good Progress’
Launched in 2016, the National Cyber Security Strategy is making progress, and one of its major successes is establishing the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This is according to Mark Sayers, deputy National Cyber Security Strategy director. He adds that although the Strategy is making good progress, there’s still much left undone.
During London’s International Security Expo 2018, Sayer said that the strategy was about bringing together the best of technology and intelligence expertise into a leading authority with a pioneer in the field. Sayer continues to say that the launch of the strategy has seen the government continually invest in and build the cyber capabilities of the United Kingdom and enforce laws on those who carry out cyber-attacks, no matter where they are.
Progress made by the National Cyber Security Strategy
The National Cyber Security Strategy has made good progress, as highlighted by Mark Sayer. The UK has developed early intervention programs to divert those identified as at risk of cybercrime. These ground-breaking interventions have inspired more people to become cybersecurity entrepreneurs and experts. According to Sayer, these programs are also being run in schools and universities, while the voluntary sector and the industry are working on retraining.
The Cyber Discovery Program has already been introduced to students aged 14 to 18 and has engaged more than 23,000 students. Another focus of the strategy is building a cybersecurity research base. There are initiatives laid down to incubate and re-establish a pipeline of cybersecurity companies and accelerate them. The strategy has seen the UK build a strong collaboration with its allies on cybersecurity.
The Strategy is working to expose, confront, disrupt and pressure hostile activity and those who act with impunity. At the same time, it is promoting its shared vision for peaceful, open, and secure cyberspace.
In summary, the achievements of the UK’s National Cyber Security Strategy are:
· Early intervention programs
· Establishment of cybersecurity companies
· Confronting and exposing hostile and impunity activities
· Strengthening the country’s collaboration with its cybersecurity allies
Challenges Facing the National Cyber Security Strategy
Although delivering the strategy is in a good place, it still faces a threat from criminals and nation-states. This means that the strategy must be keen on innovation and rise to the challenge, which can be achieved through strengthening partnerships and demystifying cybersecurity. Creating awareness and letting people take action is a major challenge as it is seen as someone else’s problem, too technical or too difficult.
To counter this, the government is focusing on creating awareness on company boards to help them understand the risks they face and how to take action and incorporate security into their company culture. Cyber Essentials Scheme is what the National Cyber Security Strategy uses to influence companies that supply goods and services to the government by specifying the standards they should use to improve their cybersecurity. They are not only enforcing those standards to the government service but also right through their entire supply chain. This is a strategy to help them protect the smaller businesses in their supply chain by helping them improve their cybersecurity awareness.
The National Cyber Aware Campaign has seen more than 550 partners in the private sector take part. It encourages individuals and businesses to take measures to prevent much-unsophisticated cybercrime.
The Future of the National Cyber Security Strategy
According to Sayer, the government is focusing on addressing the cybersecurity gap, its cybersecurity science and technology strategy, and making the design of all products and services cyber secure. The government is working on reducing skills shortage by forming relationships with academic institutions and industry to develop a cybersecurity profession and create a career pathway that is diverse and inclusive.
Plans are underway by the government to publish a cybersecurity strategy for skills by 2021, but this will require the security industry to validate the strategy and draw up the right approach.
What’s The Way Forward?
The Strategy is not only focused on a safer internet. It also ensures that the country can maximize the opportunities of new and emerging technology and minimize its risks. They want to ensure that manufacturers can protect consumers' rights from product design. This has been done by developing a code of practice that consumers can access through internet-connected devices. Besides the government’s good understanding of cybersecurity challenges, it is also setting up the right environment for all players and stakeholders.
