UK & USA - cyber security

This morning in Washington I attended a breakfast meeting with UK and US cyber security firms and potential investors. This event showcased some of the leading UK cyber security small businesses, some of whom are already beating off the competition and opening offices and securing contracts in the US. The UK is already leading the way in cyber security and this government is committed to ensuring it continues to be a leader in this multi-billion dollar industry. The cyber security sector is worth over ￡6 billion in the UK and employs around 40,000 people.

We’re also stepping up the practical support we offer UK cyber security companies to make sure they have the best opportunity win even more business in the US. This includes a new Cyber Security Envoy to work across the US market, brokering contracts for UK cyber security companies.

We need to make sure the UK remains one of the most cyber secure places in the world to do business. It’s great news that even more companies have signed up to our Cyber Essentials Scheme to keep themselves safe and we will continue to invest in supporting companies of all sizes with their cyber security.

Just as we have worked with our closest ally, the US, to protect our people and our countries from traditional threats, so we must work together to defend ourselves from new threats like cyber attacks. We agree that the cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges that our nations face. This is an evolving threat which poses a real risk to our businesses and that’s why we’re taking our cooperation with the US to an unprecedented level. This is about pooling our effort so we stay one step ahead of those who seek to attack us.

During my meetings with President Obama today we have agreed to further strengthen and deepen the already extensive cyber security cooperation between our countries. This includes:

• to bolster our efforts to increase threat information sharing and conduct joint cyber security and network defence exercises
• to work with industry to promote and align our cyber security best practices and standards, to include the U.S. Cyber security Framework and the United Kingdom’s Cyber Essentials scheme.
• to establish a joint cyber cell, with an operating presence in each country. The cell, which will allow staff from each agency to be co-located, enable cyber threat information and data to be shared at pace and at greater scale.
• to provide funding to support a new Fulbright Cyber Security Award to conduct cybersecurity research for up to six months.
• In addition, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (located in Cambridge, MA) has invited the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom to take part in a 'Cambridge vs. Cambridge' cybersecurity contest.

The joint exercises and training of our next generation of cyber experts will help to ensure that we have the capability we need to protect critical sectors like our energy, transport and financial infrastructure from emerging threats.