n March 2011 the UK Governmentpublished its Plan for Growth, stressingthe urgent need to secure long-termsustainable economic growth through a

renewed focus on exports. The Plan forGrowth was followed in November 2011 bythe UK Cyber Security Strategy.

The UK Cyber Security Strategy aims totackle cyber crime and make the UK one ofthe safest places in the world to do businessonline. This includes developing a strategy topromote the capabilities of the UK cybersecurity industry to international markets.

This promotion has involved exploitingthe domestic sector’s strengths, including itssupport of technical innovation, skilled

workforce, sound legal and regulatoryenvironment, and incorporation of ‘theinternet of things’ in the economy.

All of these strengths were recognised bythe Economist Intelligence Unit, whichranked the UK number one in its CyberPower Index.

Capitalising on this ranking, the UKGovernment has continued work on its£650 million National Security Strategy,launched in 2010, by making its CyberEssentials accreditation mandatory forcertain government contracts andestablishing an Office of Cyber Securityand Information Assurance. This officeworks to co-ordinate security measuresbetween different government

departments, as well as public and privatesector bodies.

To further co-ordinate engagementbetween government and the supply base,UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) formed theCyber Growth Partnership, composed ofrepresentatives from academia, governmentand industry. The Partnership works onbehalf of the wider sector to increase accessto the export market, develop the UK cyberpresence abroad and undertake a marketanalysis campaign.

The market analysis campaign is currentlygathering feedback from UK Governmentposts overseas – particularly those in Brazil,India, the Gulf States and South East Asia – to

give an overview of their local and regionaldrivers in cyber security, high-value projectsand export risks.

Meanwhile, UKTI is also working withgovernment stakeholders to developbilateral relationships and pursue cyberexport opportunities. This work will take theform of trade trips, exhibitions and seminarsboth in the UK and abroad.

UKTI events will showcase UK cybersecurity solutions, such as networksurveillance, advisory services (includingcyber security accreditation schemes),endpoint technologies (such as firewalls),social media analytics, mobile devicesecurity, encryption technologies, and cybersecurity education.

These services have potential applicationsin both defence and civil technologies, suchas intelligence gathering systems,communications infrastructure, transportinfrastructure, energy smart metering, largeICT systems, financial services systems andresearch capabilities.

Explaining these opportunities, UKTIDefence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO)Army Adviser for Cyber & Communications,Lt Col Tim Cooper, addressed the recentDefence Procurement, Research, Technology& Exportability (DPRTE) 2014 conference.

Lt Col Cooper said: “The UK is good at cybersecurity; as a nation we have been doing it foraround 70 years – GCHQ and CESG have along history of its innovation. The Governmenthas structures in place that have matured overtime to support cyber security.

“We have some of the best universities in theworld – 11 of which are recognised as CyberCentres of Excellence – and they take thisacademic thinking and transform it intoinnovative products, which they develop quickly.

“We also have strong political leadership anda legal framework that supports cyber security.”

Lt Col Cooper continued: “The UK offer isabout Advice, Access and Assurance; providing atriple A rating of cyber security. We will provideadvice to people, helping them recognise threatsin the cyber world; provide access to HMGrepresentatives and UK companies to combatthese threats; and provide assurance schemes toreduce future risks.”

F E A T U R E

20 MOD DCB :: 12 November 2014 :: Vol 12 No 22 :: www.contracts.mod.uk

UK Cyber Security Strategy:promoting the next big export

The UK Government has set a national target of exporting £2 billion of cyber security goods andservices annually by 2016. This goal was established following publication of the UK Cyber SecurityStrategy in 2011, which detailed a plan to capitalise on the country’s burgeoning cyber sector.Here, MOD DCB features writer Julie Shennan takes a closer look at cyber security exports.

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“The UK offer is about Advice, Access and Assurance;providing a triple A rating of cyber security”

Lt Col Tim Cooper, Army Adviser for Cyber & Communications, UKTI DSO

Further InformationFor more information, visit:www.techuk.org/cyber-growth-partnership