Innovating cyber security for a resilient future: protecting UK infrastructure

Guest blog by Chris Hemmings, Chief Revenues Officer at Cyberhive #techUKCyber2023

Cyber threats pose a significant risk to businesses, governments, and individuals alike. As the United Kingdom continues to rely heavily on digital infrastructure, protecting against these evolving threats is paramount. Cyber security innovation offers a powerful solution, enabling us to bolster our defences and stay ahead of malicious actors.

Let’s further explore the crucial role of cyber security innovation in safeguarding the UK economy and how embracing emerging technologies can fortify our resilience in the face of relentless cyber threats.

The shifting landscape of cyber threats

Cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams and data breaches, the threat landscape is diverse and ever evolving. Not only jeopardise sensitive data and financial assets, but also undermine national security and public trust.

Critical national infrastructure (CNI) is a very attractive target for cyber criminals. The potential damage from successful cyber attacks can be severe, impacting not only businesses but the overall economy and society at large.

The UK ranks third globally for cyber attacks, following the US and Ukraine, driven by both state and non-state actors, (heightened by Russia's actions in Ukraine). The UK government acknowledges this threat, emphasising cyber threats to CNI as a major concern in the National Cyber Strategy 2022 and the Government Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2030.

Cyber security innovation: a dynamic defence mechanism

To effectively combat evolving cyber threats, we need to continually innovate in the realm of cyber security. Cyber security innovation involves the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies, processes, and strategies to protect against malicious activities and enhance resilience.
While these technologies are required to be robust, there also needs to be a consideration around usability. Users of the technology will demand applications that are user-friendly and easy to set up. Complex systems not only deter users but also come with a hefty maintenance cost and longer deployment time, which can in some cases slow down new business growth. Most importantly, as we enhance CNI resilience, security must always be the linchpin.

Leveraging emerging technologies

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning: AI and machine learning can rapidly analyse vast amounts of data to detect patterns and anomalies, helping to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. These technologies can enhance threat detection, automate responses, and significantly improve the efficiency of cyber security operations.
Blockchain technology: Blockchain provides a decentralised and secure way to store and manage data, making it extremely difficult for cyber criminals to manipulate or tamper with information. This technology has the potential to revolutionise data security, especially in financial transactions and sensitive recordkeeping.
Internet of things (IoT) security: The proliferation of IoT devices introduces new vulnerabilities. Innovations in IoT security, such as embedded security measures and regular updates, are essential to safeguarding interconnected devices and networks.
Zero trust architecture: This security model assumes that threats can come from both outside and inside the network. It advocates strict identity verification and limited access, enhancing overall security posture.
Quantum-safe encryption: Quantum computers are game-changers in the world of cryptography. The encryption that presently secures our communications would take a classical computer approximately 13.7 billion years to crack, signifying a high level of security. However, with a quantum computer, this security can be compromised within just 42 minutes! Clearly, new, quantum-safe solutions are imperative. The countdown is on for the lifespan of today's infrastructure. Quantum-safe security is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention.

Which leads us nicely into talking about resilience.

Cyber resilience: enabling a culture of innovation

Cyber resilience is the ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber attacks, ensuring business continuity and minimising damage. Innovation is a key component of cyber resilience, enabling organisations to adapt and evolve in response to emerging threats.

By embracing agile methodologies, organisations can quickly develop and test new security measures and protocols, enabling a faster response to evolving cyber threats.

Establishing collaborative ecosystems that bring together government, industry, academia, and cyber security experts can foster knowledge sharing and collaboration, leading to innovative solutions and collective resilience against cyber threats.

Continuously educating employees and the public about cyber threats and best practices is fundamental. An informed workforce can act as an additional layer of defence against cyber attacks, fostering a culture of cyber resilience.

Government initiatives and private sector involvement

The UK government recognises the critical importance of cyber security and has been actively promoting cyber resilience and innovation. Initiatives such as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Cyber Security Innovation Fund aim to drive research and development in the cyber security domain.

Moreover, the private sector plays a pivotal role in advancing cyber security innovation. Businesses are investing in research and collaborating with government agencies and research institutions to develop and deploy innovative solutions. This public-private partnership is essential for effectively addressing the dynamic challenges posed by cyber threats.

Innovations in cyber security are indispensable for protecting the UK economy and its critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats. By leveraging emerging technologies and fostering a culture of cyber resilience, we can stay ahead of malicious actors and ensure a secure digital environment. Government initiatives and collaboration between the public and private sectors are crucial in driving these innovations forward. Together, we can build a resilient cyber security landscape that safeguards our economic prosperity and national security.

CyberHive won last year’s techUK Cyber Innovation Den Pitching Competition with a pitch about CyberHive Connect and its application to critical national infrastructure.

Cyber Security Programme

The Cyber Security Programme provides a channel for our industry to engage with commercial and government partners to support growth in this vital sector, which underpins and enables all organisations. The programme brings together industry and government to overcome the joint challenges the sector faces and to pursue key opportunities to ensure the UK remains a leading cyber nation, including on issues such as the developing threat, bridging the skills gap and secure-by-design.

Learn more