Policy paper

DSIT cyber security newsletter - March 2023

Published 3 March 2023

1. Director’s message

As many of you will already know, February saw responsibility for digital and cyber security move across from DCMS to the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). This is an exciting development, which brings together the five technologies of tomorrow into one single department for the first time. We will continue to deliver the priorities set out in the National Cyber Strategy 2022, and look forward to continuing some of the great work we have done as part of DCMS to drive forward this new department. 

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the CyberASAP cohort six demo day where I gave the keynote speech. I saw fifteen academic teams pitch their cyber products and services to a packed room at Level 39 in Canary Wharf. Each team is looking to commercialise their research with the help of the CyberASAP programme and there were some truly innovative and exciting ideas on show. 

I also attended the graduation event for the second year cohort of Cyber Runway, our accelerator for cyber sector businesses. Held in the Custard Factory in Birmingham it brought together participants from across the four streams of the programme for a day of celebration, panel discussions and networking. It was great to meet the companies and see the bonds and connections they had made with each other.

Last week Steve Baker MP, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, announced £18.9 million of investment in Northern Ireland’s cyber security industry. This will see the creation of a new Cyber-AI Hub in Belfast, creating jobs and supporting research in cyber. The funding supports the National Cyber Strategy and helps deliver the government’s pledge of 5,000 new cyber professionals in Northern Ireland by 2030.

Finally, if you fancy a chance to promote your cyber security SME at Europe’s biggest information security industry gathering, you can enter the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023 competition for a chance to feature at DSIT and Infosecurity Europe’s 2023 Cyber Innovation Zone. We are looking for the most creative and original cyber security companies in the country, one of which will be crowned The UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023.

Erika Lewis
Director, Cyber Security and Digital Identity

2. Win a place at Infosecurity Europe and the chance to be crowned the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023

Cyber security SMEs can win a chance to promote their business at Infosecurity Europe 2023 - Europe’s largest gathering of the information security industry, alongside being crowned the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023.

The UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2023 competition, hosted by DSIT, is open to cyber SMEs which are bringing innovative products or services to the UK market. 

The winner will be the flagship company at the 2023 Cyber Innovation Zone at Infosecurity Europe and, alongside 13 finalists, will be offered an event exhibition package, two showcase speaking slots and a marketing package. 

To enter, please complete this application form by 31 March. The finalists will be announced on 20 April and will then be required to present an online pitch with a Q&A in May 2023.

3. Software security and resilience: a call for views

The government is asking for industry views on software resilience and security for businesses and organisations. Recent incidents such as the 2020 SolarWinds attack and the discovery of the Log4j vulnerability, have demonstrated the widespread impact which insecure software can have on businesses, charities, educational institutions and other organisations. Strengthening the resilience of software is an important part of strengthening organisational cyber resilience more widely, so the government is seeking views on software cyber risk and where government action might help to mitigate them.

The deadline to provide views is Monday 1 May and you can respond to the software security consultation here.

4. Minister announces UK government investment in Northern Ireland’s cyber security industry

The UK government has announced an £18.9 million investment in Northern Ireland’s cyber security industry, including £11 million government funding through the New Deal for Northern Ireland, to develop a pipeline of cyber security professionals as well as helping businesses and startups develop new opportunities. 

The investment, announced by Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker MP, will see the creation of a new Cyber-AI Hub at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) in Belfast, creating jobs and supporting the research and development of AI-enabled cyber security projects. The funding will help ensure a pipeline of world-class cyber professionals, with the creation of a Doctoral training programme and Masters bursaries helping to deliver on the government’s pledge of 5000 cyber professionals in Northern Ireland by 2030, as well as supporting the government’s £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy.

5. Students can enrol now in the new CyberEPQ qualification

To generate wider interest and diversity in cyber as a career, the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) has received DSIT funding to enable 300 students to enrol on the UK’s only Extended Project Qualification in cyber security, known as the CyberEPQ.

Targeted at sixth form students in specific Mayoral Combined Authorities in England, this level 3 qualification is accredited with City and Guilds and worth up to 28 UCAS points.

After completing the online modules and journal, students go on to produce an essay and presentation, demonstrating their self-study skills, research, planning, time management and analytical skills that they have learned.

Students can enrol now with final submission in November 2023.

Funded places are still available in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley.

For further information contact Nicky Bodily, CyberEPQ Lead at CIISec via cyberepq@ciisec.org.

6. Cyber Explorers ‘Missions’ have landed

DSIT is excited to announce that Cyber Explorers has new cyber security learning content! 

The programme now has two parts. Firstly, the Challenges, where a citizen can be selected to complete activities showcasing cyber security’s vital role in daily life and almost all careers. Secondly, the brand new Missions, which will build more advanced skills as the programme delves deeper into compromised networks, systems under attack, and infected devices. After completing all seven, students will face a final challenge that further describes the Computer Misuse Act and introduces the National Cyber Agency’s Cyber Choices program, which aims to teach young people how to make the right decisions in the way they use technology, legally and ethically. 

The first three new missions are now live, with more releases to follow soon. Whether students are tech enthusiasts or not, this fun and truly immersive tool is perfect for Key Stage 3 or S2/S3 students.

7. Cyber Runway graduation event

In February participants from the second year of Cyber Runway, the DSIT-funded accelerator for cyber companies, gathered in Birmingham for the programme’s graduation event. The event provided a day of networking, panel discussions and interviews on subjects ranging from government procurement and founders’ journeys to the work of the new Digital Innovation and Security Hub.

8. CyberASAP Demo Day

CyberASAP, DSIT’s pre-seed accelerator, held the cohort 6 demo day on Wednesday 22 February. Erika Lewis, Director at DSIT, gave the keynote speech, followed by the 15 academic teams on cohort 6 of the programme showcasing their cyber security products and services to a packed room of investors and potential commercial collaborators.  

The competition to enter cohort 7 will open soon, with further information about the programme available on the CyberASAP website.

9. DSIT delegation visit Japan and Republic of Korea

A delegation from DSIT recently visited cyber security colleagues in Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK). They represented DSIT’s work at the Cyber Dialogues organised by the British Embassies in Tokyo and Seoul, held bilateral meetings with counterpart departments in both countries and engaged with industry to promote the UK’s work on cyber security. 

The visit provided an opportunity to communicate DSIT’s policy priorities on a broader global stage and included site visits to see cutting edge ‘connected places’ technology in practice, such as the Busan Eco Delta Smart City.

In Japan, a joint statement was agreed setting out both countries’ commitment to continued collaboration to improve app security and privacy. A Cyber Week event organised by the British Embassy in Seoul, bringing together RoK government, industry and academia, provided a further platform from which to promote DSIT’s work on cyber security and digital identity to a broader audience.

10. Sign up to the NCSC’s small organisations newsletter

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) offers a range of free guidance, training and tools for small organisations. To receive a monthly email update containing details of the latest advice, events and threat information, sign up for the NCSC small organisations newsletter.