WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Step one to secure IoT devices; Change the manufacturer’s default password |
As part of the Singapore-UK Strategic Partnership, it was agreed that the two countries would work together improving the security of internet-connected devices (IoT). The following op-ed, written by the NCSC CEO Ciaran Martin, was first published in GovInsider (02/10/19): ……. Since setting up in London three years ago, the NCSC and the UK’s DCMS have led the programme to make Internet of Things (IoT) devices to be ‘Secure by Design’. This means security should be built into a product before devices are taken home, rather than putting the burden of expectation on the general public to bolt on measures to make it safe to use. This is needed because a worrying number of people do not change the manufacturer’s default password. Not only are these passwords often universal, they are easily guessed because of how obvious they are. The password ‘password’ is one such amusing but also troubling example. Our analysis has found that 23.2m accounts that have been breached had been ‘protected’ with that easy-to-guess password. The growth of internet enabled devices poses a serious security risk. Without a way for consumers to judge the security of the products they buy, millions of inter-connected devices and the data they contain could be vulnerable to cyber attacks. The Security-by-Design UK-Singapore IoT Statement will drive improvements in the security of smart consumer products. |
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NCSC: UK & Singapore sign IoT security pledge Government and tech industry collaborate to improve cyber security of IoT devices Making sure devices connected through 5G networks are secure DCMS launch Secure by Design regulation consultation Guest Blog: Gemserv Connected Devices Survey Cyber Security starts with YOU! Making or selling IoT devices? Six reasons you need to be thinking about data protection |
Editor’s choice of other ICT items of note: |
techUK: A Digital Plug-in to maximise the gains of new tech infrastructure NCSC: Vulnerabilities exploited in VPN products used worldwide SOCITM: Digital citizens’ survey: please share with your residents |
Connecting all the services together |
WAG Health & Social Services Minister, Vaughan Gething, has announced plans to transform digital health & care in Wales. The plans include creating the role of Chief Digital Officer for Health & Care and a new NHS Wales organisation to deliver national digital services, supported by £50m new funding. The Chief Digital Officer for Health & Care will define national standards for digital software & services, as part of moving to an open digital architecture, across all digital systems. The CDO will also advise Welsh Government on digital strategy, lead the digital profession, and be a champion for digital health & care in Wales. NHS Wales Informatics Services will transition to a new standalone NHS Wales organisation, reflecting the importance of digital & data in modern health & care. The new organisation will be a Special Health Authority, like the recently established Health Education & Improvement Wales. It will have an independent chair & board, appointed by Welsh Ministers. ‘A healthier Wales’, the Welsh Government’s plan for health & care, identifies the development of digital services as key to delivering services fit for the future. Alongside strengthened leadership and delivery arrangements, A Healthier Wales commits to significantly increased investment in digital. A £50m Digital Priorities Investment Fund will drive improvements across five themes:
The Health Minister has also commissioned 4 strategic reviews of digital health & care in Wales, which will lead to the publication next year of an all Wales Digital Infrastructure Plan, a Digital Workforce Plan, a Commercial Strategy and a Communication Strategy. |
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WAG: £50m and new body to transform digital health & care services in Wales NHS Confederation: New Digital NHS Wales Organisation a Positive Step A healthier Wales: long term plan for health and social care £30m to support health & social care services this winter Welsh Government scheme puts a smile on Children’s faces Music set to bring comfort to Welsh speakers living with dementia Views needed on older people’s nutrition guidance for care homes Over half the nation not prepared for old age, new research shows Funding to improve awareness of organ donation in black, Asian & ethnic minority communities New Action Plan on tackling child sexual abuse launched New Welsh Gender Service announced New plan to tackle substance misuse in Wales launched Welsh Health Boards to receive share of £15m to improve critical care New legislation introduced to provide further quality in Welsh health & social care Healthy and Active Fund in Action Welsh Government funds new minor ailment training for pharmacists ‘Hospital to Healthier Homes’ pilot scheme extended New Treatment Fund is improving & prolonging lives across Wales |
Editor’s choice of other Health, Social care & Homelessness related items of note: |
DHSC: £5m given to AMR research partnerships between UK and Argentina ScotGov: Impact of infection outbreaks on families Join techUK’s Health & Social Care Council |
SME Supplier Locator update... | ||
UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. Against this ambitious backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers.
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Examples of Government support to help ensure a thriving Post-Brexit UK |
Businesses can apply for a share of £25m in Smart funding to support innovative ideas with commercial potential in any area of the economy. Smart is Innovate UK’s open grant funding programme to support the best game-changing & commercially viable ideas across a whole range of technology areas. Projects can focus on any area of technology and on any area of the economy including arts, design & media, creative industries, and science & engineering. Projects in support of one of the grand challenges in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy are welcomed but this is not necessary. The competition will support a range of projects from short feasibility studies to larger R&D projects and experimental development lasting up to 3 years. Applicants must show they have:
Competition information
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Innovate UK: Smart funding - open to innovative businesses from any sector Innovate UK: Transforming the way we produce food - apply for business funding Innovate UK: Developing the future of flight: - take part in the challenge Innovate UK: Fighting poverty in Africa with agritech: apply for funding Innovate UK: Groundbreaking technologies for aerospace - apply for funding Innovate UK: World-leading advances in aerospace - apply for funding |
Editor’s choice of other Business / Commercial items of note: |
BEIS: UK to take a big ‘STEP’ to fusion electricity techUK: UK and US Sign Historic Data Access DIT: Increase of UK exports to non-EU countries, latest figures show DIT: UK response to WTO ruling on Airbus ScotGov: Support service for new & existing farmers WAG: Wales can be a nation powered by marine energy, vows Lesley Griffiths Dstl: Defence investment set to transform recovery from combat trauma NCFE: The rise of the fitness industry: how it’s more of a feasible career choice than ever RLA: WAG backs working groups recommendations on de-carbonisation of homes NEPO launches Legal Services solution ESFA reminds providers it will take action to crack down on poor sub-contracting practice Crown Commercial Service: Total Fleet Solutions |
Editor’s choice of other Policy & General items of note: |
MoD: RAF pilot seconded to Virgin Orbit space programme RUSI: The End of Defence Austerity? The 2019 Spending Round and the UK Defence Budget LGA: Toxic skin lightening creams warning amid industry boom STFC: Decoding 2,000-year-old scrolls with Diamond Light Source ACE: How love, loss and baking can light the way home TfL: Overground to run Boxing Day services for the first time CA: Getting decisions about decarbonisation wrong risks hitting “those who can least afford it” Home Secretary announces a package of new measures to tackle county lines DfT: 18 new roads move a step closer to completion Defra: New measures protect animal welfare & increase woodland cover DfE: New support for foster families to overcome trauma ScotGov: Scottish Crown Estate WAG: Nitrogen Dioxide emissions have reduced at 5 motorway & trunk road locations across Wales MoJ: The child funeral fund service – now launched PC&PE: Better co-ordination to tackle causes of serious and organised crime needed ScotGov: Improving digital evidence sharing WAG: Plans for Law Council of Wales Action Fraud: The easy way to stop your online accounts getting hacked |
Editorial commentary; Why does the SNP condemn the PM’s solution for the Irish Border issue when, if they achieve Independence for Scotland, they will face similar border problems with their biggest trading partner - the rUK? |
So, Scottish voters reverse their last Referendum decision and vote for Independence – what next? First off they have to face all the fiscal problems associated with no longer being subsidised by the Barnett formula at the current rate of £2,000 per head, but let us assume they bring in an austerity budget to ‘balance the books’, sort out their currency issue, share of the UK’s National Debt, etc. They then (one assumes) apply to join the EU, which would then replicate RoI’s problem with NI – an EU land border! 80% of goods carried in Irish registered HGVs between the RoI and Europe pass through Welsh ports and one would suppose a similar situation occurs with Scotland’s current exports to the EU going through the Channel tunnel, etc.. (Editorial commentary; Some ‘more positive’ aspects of Brexit ) However, most of Scotland’s trade is not with the EU, but with the rUK and continues to be worth four times more than its exports to the EU. (Scotland's trade with UK rises to £50bn - BBC News) Scotland would therefore have to rely on whatever FTA the EU had agreed with the rUK, or trade under WTO rules, because by then (with the ‘loss of nearly 50 anti-Brexit MPs in Westminster, it is highly probable that the rUK will have achieved Brexit. So why, one wonders, doesn’t the SNP take the long view and help resolve the RoI – NI border issue of Brexit (which has nothing to do with the Good Friday agreement in reality - Editorial Commentary; The HoL needs to explain why they haven’t apparently highlighted these points of negotiation in their debates! ) as, if it gains Independence, it will no longer be part of the rUK, but in a similar position to the RoI and NI. |
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B4B: When is a Hard Border Not a Hard Border Editorial Comment: ‘What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander’ |
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Still a ‘hot topic’, with widely spread views: |
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How to prepare if the UK leaves the EU with no deal BEIS: Nationwide government events launched to help businesses get ready for Brexit BEIS: Brexit readiness fund extended to help businesses to prepare 10DS: PM's Commons statement on Brexit negotiations: 3 October 2019 EU News: Brexit statement by EC – 02 October 2019 EU News: Brexit: recent UK proposals do not offer the safeguards the EU and Ireland need EC Brexit statement following phone call with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar FCO: UK and Tunisia sign continuity agreement Defra: Government encourages food exporters to get ready for animal health regulations HM Treasury: Chancellor announces support for post-Brexit future DWP: Brexit and pensions uprating MHCLG: Brexit Local Government Delivery Board: September 2019 update Defra: UK fisheries agreement signed with Norway DfT: Events to help you get ready for Brexit HMRC adds a further £10m to boost customs expertise WAG: New funding to help secure Wales’ future relations in Europe post-Brexit OE Weekly Briefing: The Good Friday Agreement is key to unblocking the backstop impasse OE: Manageable but Material - The consequences of No Deal and how the Government should respond B4B: Two Letters from Boris Johnson to Jean-Claude Juncker B4B: The Legitimacy of Referendums - Why Edmund Burke won’t rescue Remain B4B: Debunking the myths of Brexit ‘disaster capitalism’ |
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