Government launches new cyber action plan

The government has launched a new cyber action plan to make public services more secure and resilient.

The Government Cyber Action Plan is backed by over £210 million and sets out how the government will rise to meet the growing range of online threats.

A new Government Cyber Unit will drive the plan and will rapidly improve cyber defences and digital resilience across government departments and the wider public sector.

The announcement supports government plans to digitise public services.

A new Software Security Ambassador Scheme will now help drive adoption of the Software Security Code of Practice - a voluntary project designed to reduce software supply chain attacks and disruption.

Digital Government Minister Ian Murray said: "Cyber-attacks can take vital public services offline in minutes – disrupting our digital services and our very way of life.  

"This plan sets a new bar to bolster the defences of our public sector, putting cyber-criminals on warning that we are going further and faster to protect the UK’s businesses and public services alike. 

"This is how we keep people safe, services running, and build a government the public can trust in the digital age."