Alongside international terrorism, Cyber-attacks are one of the top four threats to UK national security. The British government assigned the protection of computer networks as one of the country’s most important national security priorities, back in 2010. Defense companies, in UK, face cyber-threats almost daily, mostly from nations wanting to steal sensitive information about new technology and weapons. The UK government has now decided to collaborate with nine large defense companies of the nation to form a new Defense Cyber Protection Partnership, designed to improve the industry’s collective defenses against cyber-attacks.
The UK’s defenses against cyber attacks are to be strengthened under this plan. It will also work to establish higher standards of security for smaller companies in the supply chain. The MoD averred the partnership could mean more intelligence is shared about the latest cyber threats and it also hopes the plan will serve as a model for other sectors.
Earlier this month, UK intelligence service, GCHQ director, Sir Iain Lobban said, “Britain is seeing about 70 sophisticated cyber-espionage operations a month against government or industry networks – some 15 of which are against the defense industry. Business secrets are being stolen on an “industrial scale” and in some cases foreign hackers have penetrated firms for up to two years.”
To materialize the pact, in March, the British government launched the Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership to help businesses and government share information on cyber threats, including a secure web portal to allow information to be shared in real-time.