Cybersecurity must become a national priority, Minister warns, as UK prepares new strategy and legislation.
Cyber-attacks and hacking are likely to remain permanent features of the modern global landscape, a government minister has warned.
Speaking at the CyberUK conference in Manchester, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden urged the UK to strengthen its cyber defences, and embrace the economic opportunities that come with leadership in cyberspace.
McFadden acknowledged the growing threat from digital crime but remained optimistic about the UK's future role in the sector.
“These cyber-attacks are not a game. They’re not some clever exercise – they are serious organised crime,” he said. “The purpose is to damage and extort good businesses. It’s the digital version of an old-fashioned shakedown – whether it’s outright theft or a protection racket.”
Wake Up Call
He added that recent events should serve as a wake-up call for the country. “Cybersecurity is not a luxury – it’s an absolute necessity. Whether it is a system failure or a deliberate attack, no organisation can afford to treat it as an afterthought.”
The minister revealed that the government will publish a new National Cyber Strategy later this year, setting out a roadmap to tackle emerging digital threats and seize opportunities in the sector.
In addition, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is set to modernise how the state responds to cyber threats. The legislation will grant new powers to the Technology Secretary to compel regulated organisations to strengthen their defences.
Alongside the Bill, a new Software Security Code of Practice will be introduced to guide organisations in embedding security into their operations.
“Now is the right time to be gathering, to discuss how we can make our defences as strong as possible,” the minister added.
A Sector of Opportunity
While acknowledging the threats, McFadden also highlighted the vast potential of the cybersecurity sector to drive economic growth.
“It’s easy to focus on the risks, but we also need to think about the reward,” he said. “Cybersecurity can be a major engine for our economy.”
The UK is already home to over 2,000 cybersecurity businesses, employing around 67,000 people – a figure that grew by 6,000 in the past year alone. The sector currently generates over £13 billion in annual revenue.
To support future growth, the government is backing an independent report from Imperial College London and the University of Bristol, which will identify the key policy levers needed to unlock further potential.
One major investment already underway is the development of the Golden Valley campus near GCHQ’s Cheltenham office. Backed by £1 billion in funding, the state-of-the-art site is expected to create 12,000 jobs and include new homes, retail, and hospitality businesses.
“This is all about growth – safe, secure, sustainable economic growth,” the minister concluded.
Written by
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with 25 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 17 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Forum, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and the National Cyber Security Show, and served as editor of SC Media UK, Infosecurity Magazine and IT Security Guru. He was also an analyst with 451 Research and a product marketing lead at Tenable.
