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National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released its second annual review.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) yesterday released its second annual review. It details the wide-ranging work of the NCSC throughout 2018 highlighting key achievements as well as the persistent cyber challenges facing the UK.

The report sets out:

• The latest overview of the threat landscape and insight into the 1000+ cyber-attacks the NCSC dealt with in 2018;
• The growing threat from nation-state actors, and work being undertaken with partner Governments against threats to CNI from Russian pre-positioning;
• Progress to date including some world-leading initiatives to rectify systemic security weaknesses;
• The roles of Government, business and citizens in meeting developing cyber threats;
• NCSC future plans and initiatives such as next steps for Active Cyber Defence, Cyber First and CyberUK (Glasgow).

As the report makes clear, there is still work to do in all areas. Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster states in his foreword that:

“Key to our success will be how we take on longer-term strategic challenges, whether that is affecting behaviour change, developing the right skills set among UK professionals, or deepening our collaborative partnerships in the UK and internationally.”

Detailing how NCSC has sought to provide industry and the wider UK with the tools to combat hostile actors Ciaran Martin, CEO, NCSC yesterday said:

“I remain in little doubt that we will be tested to the full, as a centre, and as a nation by a major incident…That’s why earlier this year, along with the Government of the United States, the NCSC published evidence of Russian pre-positioning on some of our critical sectors, along with detailed technical guidance to business on how to get rid of it from networks.”

Responding to the report Talal Rajab, Head of Cyber and National Security, techUK yesterday said:

In the two years since its conception the National Cyber Security Centre has established itself as a vital component of the UK’s security apparatus. This report documents a vast body of work that has been undertaken including incident response, active cyber defence, skills and education, industry engagement and protecting CNI. The NCSC is a leader in all of these, working with partners across industry to deliver a world leading cyber capabilities in the UK. techUK has been delighted to support these initiatives and is looking forward to increased engagement with the NCSC over the next year.

To access the full report please click here.