Economic and Social Research Council
Printable version

Digital Security by Design enters next major phase

Digital Security by Design (DSbD) challenge and Digital Catapult launch Technology Access Programme.

A new programme has been designed for developers and organisations to experiment with DSbD technologies to block cyber vulnerabilities. This includes Arm’s Morello Board and the University of Cambridge’s secure computer architecture, capability hardware enhanced RISC instructions (CHERI).

With the recent release of the Arm Morello Board, the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Digital Security by Design initiative, delivered by Innovate UK, is entering its next major phase. This begins with the launch of the Technology Access Programme.

Developed by Arm, the Morello Board will introduce a new approach to blocking security vulnerabilities in modern computer systems. The Morello board is a real-world test platform for the Morello prototype architecture developed by Arm, which is based on the University of Cambridge’s secure computer architecture, CHERI.

About the Technology Access Programme

The Technology Access Programme will give participating organisations an opportunity to access this early-stage software and prototype hardware technology. This will allow them to investigate in their own research and development teams and validate the core capabilities and benefits.

The programme will be run by the Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology. UKRI through the DSbD challenge awarded the Digital Catapult £2 million of funding.

This will provide the UK technology community with a series of events and workshops and give participating businesses and developers the opportunity to get hands-on experience of the new technologies.

The Technology Access Programme will also improve the competitiveness of UK tech businesses through early access and adoption of new technologies.

Benefiting UK industries

UK industries that will benefit from more secure computing platforms are encouraged to engage with the programme. These include:

  • aerospace
  • defense
  • healthcare
  • financial services
  • manufacturing
  • telecoms
  • energy infrastructure
  • transport
  • education.

Interested UK businesses will be able to register their interest via the DSbD portal which was launched on 17 January 2021.

Fundamental change in technology

John Goodacre, Challenge Director for Digital Security by Design said:

There is a continuous escalation in cyber-crime and the cyber-security response. DSbD aims to stimulate a fundamental change in technology so that the digital world can be secure by design with data protected by default.

I’m pleased to support the DSbD Technology Access Programme to give businesses the opportunity to understand how their products and services can benefit, blocking vulnerabilities so that their operations and customers can be better protected against the growing costs and harm of a cyber-attack.

Hands-on opportunities

Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult said:

In today’s highly competitive global marketplace, companies need to find new ways of reducing security vulnerabilities in vital systems, devices, vehicles and public infrastructure.

The DSbD innovations in cybersecurity have the potential to provide significant new levels of protection for industrial computer systems and widely used devices.

Digital Catapult is excited to lead the Technology Access Programme, an important strand of work which will provide hands-on opportunities for developers and organisations to experiment with these digital security technologies and provide vital feedback to help shape a safer future.

Further information

About Digital Security by Design

DSbD is an initiative supported by the UK government to transform digital technology and create a resilient, and secure foundation for a safer future.

Through collaboration between academia, industry and government, these new capabilities will pave the way for business and people to use and trust technology.

DSbD will enable a more trustworthy digital environment, in which only expected access to data and operations are permitted while limiting the impact of vulnerabilities.

DSbD will promote a mindset change around cyber security, giving the freedom to learn, trade, play, automate and collaborate safely.

Channel website: http://www.esrc.ac.uk

Original article link: https://www.ukri.org/news/digital-security-by-design-enters-next-major-phase/

Share this article

Latest News from
Economic and Social Research Council

Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story