UK report: Cyber threats demand new security doctrine

UK lawmakers are demanding urgent legislative action to fortify the nation's economic security against escalating cyber threats.

UK lawmakers are demanding urgent legislative action to fortify the nation's economic security against escalating cyber threats, according to Infosecurity Magazine.

A new report from the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee warns that Britain is "hugely exposed to the risks of economic warfare" and that its current defenses are inadequate for the future.

The committee's chairman, Liam Byrne, argued that the country's open economy, with its reliance on foreign technology and investment, makes it uniquely vulnerable.

The report, which mentions "cyber" over 100 times, identifies 10 primary threats, emphasizing that cybersecurity is foundational to economic resilience. It states, "Economic security cannot be achieved without cybersecurity," pointing to recent attacks that have devastated companies and supply chains.

Key recommendations include making the voluntary Software Security Code of Practice legally mandatory, creating tax relief for businesses investing in cyber resilience, and consulting on a mandatory cyber-incident reporting regime.

Katharina Sommer of NCC Group described the report as a "clarion call" for a more strategic government approach, noting that measures to incentivize secure-by-design software and support smaller organizations are vital steps to strengthen national defenses.

Written by

Sharon Florentine Editorial Director

Sharon Florentine is the editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s Channel Brands and acting editorial director for SC UK. She is responsible for setting strategy and editorial direction and developing content for news, features, analysis and other written content, moderates live webcasts, and oversees research projects. Sharon has previously held key editorial, content and leadership positions at DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, CIO.com, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and CRN, among others.