Package of new measures aims to make online public services more secure and resilient
We use online public services for everything from accessing healthcare to applying for benefits and paying our taxes. Indeed, the UK government is keen to further digitise public services, with DSIT’s State of Digital Government review estimating that this more effective use of technology across the public sector could save the equivalent of up to £45bn.
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However, such benefits are only achievable if there is sufficient trust in these systems. As we’ve seen in some high-profile cases in recent years, cyber attacks can take down online services suddenly, disrupting lives and undermining confidence. That’s why the government is also keen to ensure that such services are ever more secure and resilient, and people’s data is protected.
The result is the comprehensive new Cyber Action Plan, published today. Backed by more than £210m, the plan will be driven a new Government Cyber Unit, tasked with rapidly improving cyber defences and digital resilience across departments and the wider public sector.
The new plan aims to address such threats in a number of ways. These include clearer visibility of risks, stronger central action on the toughest challenges, faster response to threats and incidents, and higher resilience across government.
- Read the government’s new Cyber Action Plan
A new Software Security Ambassador Scheme will also help to drive adoption of the Software Security Code of Practice, a voluntary project designed to reduce software supply chain attacks and disruption by embedding basic security practices across the market. Major companies including Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Sage, Santander and NCC Group are to come on board as the scheme’s ambassadors.
Meanwhile, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill continues its passage through Parliament. This new legislation sets out clearly how companies that provide services to government will be expected to boost their cyber resilience to ensure services are not put at risk.
Ian Murray MP, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology), says: ‘Cyber attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes – disrupting our digital services and our very way of life. This plan sets a new bar to bolster the defences of our public sector, putting cyber-criminals on warning that we are going further and faster to protect the UK’s businesses and public services alike. This is how we keep people safe, services running, and build a government the public can trust in the digital age.’
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