During a keynote address at the CyberUK 2024 conference in Birmingham, Tech Minister Saqib Bhatti unveiled the UK government’s latest initiatives to fortify the nation’s cyber resilience and defend against mounting digital threats.
The multi-faceted strategy involves leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI, instituting stringent security codes for software vendors and developers, and building a world-class cyber workforce through professional certifications and skills training.
Addressing one of the core cybersecurity challenges, Bhatti emphasized the government’s “secure by design” approach to ensure new technologies have security embedded from the ground up.
He cited recent consumer IoT device laws that mandate robust default passwords, stated vulnerability disclosure policies, and minimum update periods as an example of UK leadership driving global tech policy.
New Codes to Govern Software and AI Security
Two new codes of practice published on gov.uk today double down on this security-first philosophy:
- The Software Vendor Code sets principles for secure software development lifecycles, controlled build environments, secure deployment practices, and transparent communication through supply chains – aiming to prevent repeats of attacks like those crippling the BBC, British Airways and NHS systems.
- The AI Cyber Security Code provides guardrails for developing AI applications resilient against hacking, tampering or manipulation, forming the basis for an international standard built on NCSC guidelines.
“Getting this right is crucial for the future security and resilience of our tech ecosystem,” Bhatti stressed.
“We’re really keen to have industry feedback on strengthening these codes.”
Credentials and Skills to Raise the Bar
Beyond technical baselines, the Minister outlined strategic levers to improve Britain’s overall cyber posture through upskilling the workforce and mandating security standards.
Highlighting new statistics showing Cyber Essentials-certified firms face 92% fewer cyber insurance claims, he bluntly stated “Cyber Essentials works” and called for mass adoption of the scheme’s risk-reducing practices.
Standardizing the Cyber Workforce
On the human capital front, a new “professional titles” program developed jointly with the UK Cyber Security Council will provide portable, recognized accreditation defining clear career pathways and competencies for cybersecurity practitioners.
A public statement published alongside Bhatti’s speech formalizes commitments from government bodies, regulators and techUK members to incorporate these professional certifications into hiring and workforce development by 2025.
Scaling Up Youth Cyber Training
Bhatti also revealed plans to significantly expand the successful CyberFirst program which has already reached over 260,000 students across 2,500 UK schools since 2016 with hands-on cybersecurity skills training.
The forthcoming public consultation will explore options like spinning off delivery into a new independent organization dedicated to rapidly growing the initiative’s impact as a talent pipeline for the field.
Coordinated Economic Defense
Underscoring the collaborative “whole-of-nation” approach mandated by the National Cyber Strategy, the Minister highlighted parallel efforts raising baseline security requirements across all sectors through regulatory updates, public-private partnerships and coordinated risk management.
“The cyber threat isn’t just hitting our national security – it’s impacting our entire economy,” Bhatti warned bluntly.
“These malicious actors cannot be allowed to prevail. By working hand-in-glove with our industry partners, we will ensure Britain’s economy remains secure, resilient and fit for Cloud Age innovation.”
This includes the looming expansion of the NIS Regulations to cover managed services providers, continued collaboration between tech firms and U.K. cyber authorities like NCSC and NCSC-certified penetration testing under the evolving CBEST framework.
Cooperation with financial regulators and the Bank of England on sector-specific resilience efforts is also increasing.
Nurturing the UK’s Cybersecurity Powerhouse
With the cybersecurity industry now viewed as an engine for economic growth, the government aims to nurture the UK’s burgeoning £11.9 billion cyber sector which already employs over 60,000 nationwide according to new figures.
An upcoming independent review by MP Stephen McPartland will further detail how proactive cyber policies can drive job creation, investment and innovation across the nation’s digital economy.
As cyber threats proliferate from individual hackers to hostile nation-states, the UK is rapidly building a comprehensive defensive posture spanning technology, policy, workforce development and lockstep public-private coordination.
People and businesses are encouraged to monitor the National Cyber Security Centre for the latest guidance as these new resilience initiatives take shape.
Sources: THX News, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, National Cyber Security Centre, FCA, House of Commons Library, Bank of England & Saqib Bhatti MP.
