The UK has announced its first ever internal Government Cyber Security Strategy and the launch of an International Data Transfer Expert Council.
The security strategy is aimed at protecting public services and preventing them from being shut down when targeted by hostile actors, including cyber-criminals and other states.
Chancellor Steve Barclay said that the UK was now the third most targeted country in the world by hostile states and added that “the cyber threat is clear and growing”.
The strategy will see the founding of a new Government Cyber Coordination Centre (GCCC), to co-ordinate cyber security measures across the public sector.
A new vulnerability reporting service will also allow security researchers and public users to flag up any potential issues they find with digital public services.
A little over £37m will be given to local authorities to improve their cyber resilience.
The Government said that this will help to protect essential data and services, including voter registration, housing benefit and social care provision.
Data council wants to keep free data exchange flowing
The International Data Transfer Expert Council, meanwhile, aims at maintaining the free and secure flow of data following the UK’s departure from the EU.
The group will provide independent advice on data to the Government and includes experts from businesses such as Microsoft, Google, IBM and Barclays, a number of leading academics, and representatives from organisations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Centre for Information Policy Leadership.
The Government considers international data transfers to be crucial to a number of key technologies, including online banking, smart devices, and elements of digital healthcare such as those relating to COVID-19 vaccine development.
Meetings of the data council will discuss a wide range of topics such as future partnerships on data adequacy and the development of new tools for data transfer.
The members will also look at the ways that governments can work together to promote greater trust among citizens regarding the sharing of data for the purposes of law enforcement and national security.
The UK is also keen to strike international deals on personal data transfer, with countries including the US, Australia, South Korea and Singapore being seen as priorities.
Data Minister Julia Lopez said that the panel would aim to “deliver a world-leading and truly global data policy for the future”.
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