02 Jul 2009
Following last week’s publication of a UK national Cyber Security Strategy, the FT devoted a leader column to “Cyber security risk” highlighting the growing threat of cyber warfare to national security and resilience and its future role in conflict.
This is a subject close to the technology industry’s heart, and the recent publication of a national Cyber Security Strategy has now also focused Government’s attention on what many believe is the newest theatre of war. Whilst we at Russell Square therefore applaud the FT’s interest in the subject, I cannot help but disagree with their fundamental conclusion – that developed economies (including the UK) are better placed to withstand the collapse or compromise of our digital networks than less developed equivalents.
I’d posit that in truth the opposite is true - the UK is one of the world’s most technology dependent societies, and the impacts for Government, business and citizens of even part-failure of our “digital backbone” would be unprecedented.
As the 2003 power blackout on the east coast of the United States (which was itself, some say, caused by overenthusiastic Chinese cyberagents) proved, the inability to use ICT sends most developed world businesses and many vital public services – which depend solely on the Cyber domain for trade, communication and finance - back to the digital Dark Ages.
This contrasts sharply with less technology or service-based economies, where networks are both more limited and less integrated into business processes, and agricultural or manual industries could largely continue to function – Britain’s banking sector or creative industries could not.
We know that both state and non-state adversaries are using the Cyber domain to attack national infrastructure and our open and globalised society’s dependence on its digital backbone makes us an extremely vulnerable target. Intellect therefore welcomes the advent of the Cyber Security Strategy, and looks forward to helping Government use industry’s expertise, experience and innovation to aid its implementation.
By Joel Grundy, Defence and Security Programme Manager
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Interesting article: It's perhaps unsurprising considering this is the first time Cybersecurity has been discussed at any great length if at all, that the reports are quite vague and strategy focussed rather than actually giving out any specific advice or regulation. Clearly these initiatives are a start but as the Korean cyber attacks of the past week point out clearly: foreign governments and criminals are many steps ahead.
I also came away thinking about how the UK documents position shared-responsibility amongst IT departments. In my experience many areas of IT operate in silos which results in a lack of important information exchange. These reports don’t go far enough in terms of defining responsibilities and raising awareness of whom, how and what should be communicated. It’s all a bit woolly.
The US cybersecurity directives imply businesses should set a baseline for all business from a security perspective – is the UK behind in its approach and weak by not setting out a clear mandate? The recommendations for security awareness and individual responsibility are pretty basic and undefined. It does make my cynical side come out and ponder whether these reports are sincere or just fodder to distract the media from the enormous number of UK government data leaks! They need to take the bull by the horns and get their own house in order. Make security actionable and lead by example - by far the best approach.
With any security or information protection law both the US and UK governments face an uphill battle because of a strong privacy movement. Protecting the safety of the public at large could invariably compromise the privacy of few – it’s a trade off but just how far will IT go to protect corporate data? The next 12 months will be interesting to watch….
Posted by: Dominique Levin, Executive Vice President Streategy and Marketing 14 Jul 2009
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