Policy paper

DSIT cyber security newsletter - September 2023

Published 13 September 2023

1. Director’s message

As we approach the two-year anniversary of the National Cyber Strategy it is a good time to reflect on our work and look forward to the future. It’s certainly been a busy two years. On the programme front we launched Cyber Explorers, our digital platform for 11 to14 year olds to help teach them cyber skills and which has, so far, reached 50,000 students.  For cyber innovators we launched Cyber Runway, the UK’s largest accelerator for businesses and entrepreneurs, which is now in its third year. On the policy side we enacted the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, which will be fully in force by April 2024, placing world-first obligations on smart device manufacturers to make them more secure. We delivered the world’s first government-backed Code of Practice for App Store Operators and App Developers and we continue to work with our partners across the cyber ecosystem, including the UK Cyber Security Council, which is working to establish nationally recognised standards across the sector.

But cyber security is a rapidly changing sector, both technologically and in the wider political and social context in which it is delivered. That is why we are keen to hear from you to understand the major challenges and issues you think the cyber sector will be facing over the next few years. We are asking you to complete a short survey to share your views so you can help us shape and inform our policy to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of cyber security innovation, development and resilience.

Finally, in the next few months DSIT’s London- based staff will be moving to a new HQ in the Admiralty Buildings, physically positioning science and technology at the core of Whitehall. To celebrate we are inviting UK technology firms to exhibit at the entrance. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your work to ministers, businesses and government officials. I know our sector is host to a lot of innovative companies and it would be great to have cyber security represented, so please do apply

Andrew Elliot

Director, Cyber Security and Digital Identity

2. Help shape DSIT’s understanding of your cyber security challenges

DSIT’s Cyber Security and Digital Identity directorate wants to understand the major challenges and issues the cyber sector will be facing over the next three to five years to help us inform and shape our work.

We are keen to understand your views on the following questions:

1. What are the biggest changes you identify in the UK or wider international cyber security landscape since the launch of the UK National Cyber Strategy in December 2021?

2. What have these changes meant for your own area of work?

3. What do you think the implications are for DSIT cyber priorities over the next three to five years?

Please share your opinion by responding to our short five-minute survey prepared to help capture our newsletter subscribers’ views. You can reference the UK National Cyber Strategy to inform your response. The deadline is Friday 15 September.

3. Showcase your company at DSIT HQ

DSIT is inviting leading innovation firms, technology businesses and research organisations to showcase their innovations at the entrance to our new headquarters, as part of our plans to champion innovation and showcase the pioneering work of UK industry and academia.

Those selected to exhibit will be promoted across the department’s social media channels as well as at internal events, highlighting their work to the innovators, ministers and decision makers. Businesses and organisations who are interested in exhibiting at our London headquarters, can contact exhibit@dsit.gov.uk or visit the website for more information.

4. Cyber Explorers – call to schools

The Cyber Explorers programme is keen to engage with more schools so they can take advantage of the platform to boost cyber skills and educate young people on careers in cyber.
 
Cyber Explorers provides a free learning platform which introduces 11–14-year-olds to important cyber security concepts and supports learning objectives for key stage 2 and 3. Tens of thousands of students will get the chance to sign up to the programme, with Oover 50,000 students already signed up to the initiative.
 
Parents and guardians can register their students to access free lesson plans, resources and guides for wider cyber educational support.

5. Upskill in Cyber: opportunity for employers 

Upskill in Cyber, a government-funded programme which provides cyber security training to adult learners, is looking for organisations who are interested in employing its current participants.

Delivered by cyber security training specialists SANS, Upskill in Cyber is an accelerated programme which helps people gain cyber security skills and GIAC certificates to encourage them move into a career in the sector. Students are selected via a rigorous assessment process and undergo a fourteen-week course and the current cohort has more than 300 members. Interested companies should contact SANS at cyberacademy@sans.org.

6. Take part in new research on connected places

To help develop government policy, DSIT is currently conducting research on the sector’s understanding of cyber security approaches in connected places - such as airports, railway stations, universities and other public spaces. If you work in designing, procuring or managing connected place technology in these areas we would be interested in hearing from you.

We’re keen to hear from organisations, including large suppliers, at all stages of development, even those that have not yet deployed connected place technology. Participants are eligible for an honorarium or a charity donation for taking part.

7. CyberFirst reaches 100 schools and colleges

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is proud to announce that 100 UK educational institutions have now been accredited as CyberFirst schools and colleges. CyberFirst schools and colleges must demonstrate they are committed to providing a structured approach to excellence in cyber security education. Participating organisations must pass a rigorous selection process and are awarded either a Gold, Silver or Bronze certificate depending on their application.

The benefits of being a CyberFirst school include recognition and promotion from NCSC; engagement with local industry and connections to local universities. If you wish to get involved in the CyberFirst schools programme whether that be running an event, mentoring or teacher CPD please get in touch at cyberfirst@ncs.gov.uk

8. NCSC research problem book published

The NCSC has published the latest version of its research problem book. The book identifies the most significant cross-cutting problems the NCSC believes need concerted and significant collaborative effort from multiple and diverse disciplines over the next decade. These include: how can we build systems that we trust? How do we make system security assessments more data driven? And, how do we make phishing a thing of the past?

The problem book is aimed at anyone with research interests in cyber security, including academia and industry partners, with new chapters to be added in the future. NCSC would also like to hear about industry work already happening which contributes to solving these problems.