Cyber Security Forum: Good security will enhance export opportunities

Security conference panel tells delegates that security is essential for economic prosperity

Securing the UK's cyberspace will enhance export opportunities, according to a former head of GCHQ, who was speaking on a panel at the Cyber Security Forum 2011 this morning.

Sir Kevin Tebbit, chairman of security firm Finmeccanica UK and a former GCHQ director, said: "The government's position on securing cyberspace is crucial for economic success and growth.

"It's a battleground, not just for defence and security, but for economic superiority in a world of changing power and wealth."

He explained that while the government understands that our national infrastructure, including communications and utilities networks, is vulnerable to attack, it views this as both a threat and an opportunity.

"The opportunity is that if the UK can demonstrate to the world that it has higher levels of information assurance and integrity, and is better at managing information and networks than its competitors, we will have a national advantage commercially, leading to additional export opportunities," said Tebbit.

Another former director of GCHQ, Sir David Omand, agreed this was the government's principal objective.

"We need to start with the value proposition, which is adapt or die. It's not just defending what we have, but enabling our future prosperity. Are we a good place to do business relative to our competitors? Do ideas fizz and bubble here? Are we receptive to these innovative ideas?"

The panel concluded that in order to reach this position, the public and private sectors would need to co-operate. However, the responsibility to drive the cultural change needed to generate this lies with the government.

"We need behavioural changes, and that only comes from a compelling narrative. The government security strategy [which was due to be released this month but has been delayed] should provide that, just as its counter-terrorism strategy provided a narrative. "