The UK government is investing heavily in cyber security and this is investment will only grow in years to come.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, says cyber threats are increasing during COVID-19 Pandemic. The revelation was made in the organisations fourth Annual Review which looks back at some of the key developments and highlights from the NCSC’s work between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020.
NCSC Annual Review
Opening the review with a Ministerial Foreword, Penny Mordaunt MP made clear that the organisation has been challenged by the pandemic and although the organisation has been working night and day to make the UK a safe place to live and work online, “it has tackled more cyber threats than ever before”.
Throughout the pandemic the NCSC helped to protect NHS Trusts, the Nightingale hospitals and vital NHS systems, ensuring they were able to function remotely despite coronavirus.
Although much hard work has been carried out already, hard work is set to continue. During the Ministerial Foreword, Ms Mordaunt said:
“The pandemic continues to affect how we live and work. It is vital that cyber security remains a priority. It will help us to stay ahead of changing technologies, seize the opportunities for the UK as an independent country outside the European Union, and harness cyber’s full potential to help drive economic recovery.”
Cyber Spending Boost
In the latest Government Spending Review which was announcement on 25 November. The government pledged to invest in cutting-edge technology, positioning the UK as a global leader in domains such as cyber and space and addressing weaknesses in the UK’s defence arsenal.
To support these advancements, the Prime Minister made further announcements of a new agency dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, the creation of a National Cyber Force and a new ‘Space Command’, capable of launching its first rocket in 2022.
This will be underpinned by a record investment of at least £1.5Bn extra and £5.8Bn total on military research and development and a commitment to invest further in the Future Combat Air System.
Cyber Security Tenders
Now is a prime time for suppliers from this sector to take advantage of the growing number of cyber security tenders available.
The UK is not the only country suffering from an increase in attacks. According to the EU’s Agency for Cyber Security, there has been an increase in:
“Finely targeted and persistent attacks on high-value data” across the continent. With hackers looking to expose intellectual property and state secrets.”
To tackle these threats, governments across the world, not just Europe will be investing heavily in cyber defences, as hackers take advantage of businesses to get used to the “new normal”.
Discover more about Cyber Security Procurement with DCI or register for a free trial of our international defence portal.
