The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy is
launching a new inquiry into cyber security.
The impact of technology, especially cyber threats and wider
technological developments, is one of the major security
challenges facing the
UK, according to the 2015 National Security Strategy and
Strategic Defence and Security Review.
The Government has said it will treat a cyber attack on the UK as
seriously as a conventional attack. The second National
Cyber Security Strategy was launched in November 2016 to
address challenges in relation to cyber security with a total
budget of £1.9 billion for 2016 to 2021.
The Chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security
Strategy, MP, commented:
“The internet has changed our daily lives almost beyond
recognition from the way we communicate, to the way we trade and
the way Government provides services to citizens.
“However, while the digital revolution has opened up a whole
host of opportunities, it has also created new vulnerabilities.
The national security implications of the leap to cyber are a
matter of increasing concern.
“Attention has recently focused on the potential exploitation
of the cyber domain by other states and associated actors for
political purposes, but this is just one source of threat that
the Government must address through its recently launched
five-year strategy.”
The Committee is particularly interested in submissions which
address:
* The types and sources of cyber threats faced by the UK;
* The effectiveness and coherence of the strategic lead provided
by the National Security Council, Departments, agencies, and the
National Cyber Security Centre;
* Learning points drawn from the first Cyber Security Strategy
and the fitness for purpose of the second Cyber Security
Strategy;
* Whether the UK has committed sufficient human, financial and
technical resources to address the scale of cyber security
challenge;
* The development of offensive cyber capabilities and the norms
governing their use;
* Ways in which the UK Government can work with the private
sector to build cyber resilience and cyber skills;
* The balance of responsibilities between the Government and
private sector in protecting critical national
infrastructure;
* The appropriate role for Government in regulating and
legislating in relation to cyber both nationally and
internationally;
* How the UK can co-operate with allies and partners on the
development of capabilities, standard setting and intelligence
sharing.
