The British government has published its new national cyber strategy.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said that the strategy builds on the progress made on cyber over the past five years, which has seen the UK cyber security sector grow rapidly.

According to the government department, over 1,400 businesses in the sector generated revenues of £8.9 billion last year, supporting 46,700 skilled jobs, and attracted significant overseas investment.

It added that the government is urging all parts of society to “play their part” in reinforcing the UK’s economic and strategic strengths in cyberspace - this means more diversity in the workforce, levelling up the cyber sector across all UK regions, expanding offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, and prioritising cyber security in the workplace, boardrooms and digital supply chains.

“Technology allows us to enjoy incredible freedoms,” said foreign secretary Liz Truss. “These freedoms, however, are threatened by malign actors seeking to undermine democracies in the digital world and beyond. Now is the time for the free world to fight back, and harness the power of technology, to promote freedom not fear.”

Truss added: “The new £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy, launched today, will solidify the UK’s position as a leading democratic, responsible cyber power. We will set the rules, roles and responsibilities that govern a free, open and secure cyberspace that benefits all global citizens.

“We will create a network of liberty with our fellow responsible cyber powers to defend against criminal and malign use of cyberspace. We will unleash the very best of British innovation, developing next-generation technology that protects us and our allies from those who seek to undermine us.”

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