The United Kingdom has a diverse cyber security community, interconnected in a complex network.
31-522: According to a parliamentary committee the UK government is not doing enough to protect the nation against cyber attack. The UK Government periodically publishes a Cyber Security Strategy. Many of the stakeholders across all categories are engaged with that effort. The overall responsibility for security within the UK rests with the National Security Council which is a cabinet committee chaired by
62-547: A National Security Secretariat Director – had been promoted to a newly created third DNSA position. As of 6 November 2014, there were three DNSAs: Hugh Powell as DNSA (Foreign Policy), Julian Miller as DNSA (Defence, Nuclear and Strategy) and Paddy McGuinness as DNSA (Intelligence, Security & Resilience). As of early December 2014, the National Security Secretariat was staffed by 180 officials and comprises five directorates: Foreign & Defence Policy;
93-542: A distributed Government Security Function / Government Security Profession across the departments and Arms Length Bodies (ALB), and three National Technical Authorities (NTA), all of which have a role in information and/or cyber security: The role of Lead Government Department (LGD) for Cyber Security is currently fulfilled by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), having previously rested with: All other government departments and ALBs will have staff in
124-645: A government response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament and a list of government salaries. Alessandri apparently took up her appointment in July 2018. Alessandri has left her Deputy NSA post to work in the Northern Ireland Office in January 2020. Alessandri has been replaced by Beth Sizeland while Alex Ellis has also been added as a deputy with the title 'Deputy National Security Adviser for
155-563: A role into the 1920s. It was effectively a peacetime defence planning system, one which only provided advice; formal authority remained with Ministers and service chiefs, which helped ensure the Committee's acceptability to the existing bureaucracy . Chaired by the Prime Minister, members were usually cabinet ministers, the heads of the military services, and key civil servants; Prime Ministers from Dominion countries were de facto members of
186-474: Is a United Kingdom cabinet committee . The Council's terms of reference were said in September 2022 to include matters relating to national security, foreign policy, defence, trade, international relations, development, resilience and resource security. As of 2024, the meetings are held weekly. The NSC has counterparts in the national security councils of many other nations. The then National Security Council
217-474: Is now the High Commissioner to Pakistan. Turner was replaced by David Quarrey in July 2019. It was reported on 14 January 2018 that Paddy McGuinness was leaving the national security secretariat. His successor as deputy national security adviser for intelligence, security and resilience, Richard Moore, announced his appointment on 8 January via his personal Twitter account. Moore's tenure as deputy NSA
248-588: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat ; Security & Intelligence; the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance, and UK Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT UK). As of 10 February 2015, Liane Saunders – previously the National Security Secretariat's Director for Foreign Policy and its Afghanistan/Pakistan Coordinator – was described as an Acting Deputy National Security Adviser (Conflict, Stability and Foreign Policy). On 16 June 2016,
279-877: The Ministry of Defence and GCHQ . The National Crime Agency (NCA) hosts the law enforcement cyber crime unit, incorporating the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre . Former bodies in this category include: Within the WPS, there are a number of collaborative bodies, including: Two regulatory bodies have a specific cyber security related function: Most other regulatory bodies will have staff covering information and cyber security function for both their internal staff, and their client communities. Current bodies that cover multiple sectors include: Former bodies in this category include: National Security Council (United Kingdom) The National Security Council
310-726: The Prime Minister tasked with overseeing all issues related to national security , intelligence coordination, and defence strategy. The internal protective security coordination role for UK government is led by the Government Chief Security Officer (GCSO) within the Cabinet Office, who since 2021 has been Vincent Devine . The central organisation supporting the GCSO is the Government Security Group (GSG), with
341-571: The Royal Navy and the British Army , after the military reductions in the wake of the Boer War. However, no arrangements were made for it to formally pass on its conclusions to those with the ability to translate them into actions. This lack soon became obvious enough that a Secretariat was appointed, under Sir George Clarke . In addition to acting as a communicator, Clarke was tasked with making sure that
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#1732868762845372-411: The Cabinet Office released staff data, correct as of 31 March 2016, listing two current Deputy National Security Advisers: Paddy McGuinness (responsible for Intelligence, Security and Resilience) and then Brigadier Gwyn Jenkins (responsible for Conflict, Stability & Defence). Jenkins appeared to have been in post since at least June 2015. Prior to becoming a deputy National Security Adviser, Jenkins
403-517: The Integrated Review on diplomacy, development and defence'. Sizeland's appointment was confirmed in an oral evidence by Mark Sedwill, however, as of 25 May 2020, her appointment has not been updated on the Cabinet Office website. As of October 2020, Quarrey has taken over the post of acting NSA while Lord Frost remains Chief Negotiator for the European Union talks. On 29 January 2021, it
434-524: The NSC has been criticised. The Council was briefly renamed the Foreign Policy and Security Council (FPSC) under Prime Minister Liz Truss . The list of Cabinet Committees published 3 November 2022, confirmed the name had been changed back to National Security Council under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak . In September 2024, it was reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had begun holding weekly meetings for
465-401: The NSC to allow Huawei to bid for 'non-core' elements of the construction of the prospective 5G network . In the early months of Johnson's premiership, several sub-committees of the NSC ceased to exist. Additionally, the NSC met weekly during the ministries of David Cameron and Theresa May , but didn't meet at all between January and May 2020, under Boris Johnson . Johnson's non-use of
496-608: The United Kingdom and integrates at the highest level the work of relevant government entities with respect to national security. The council reflected the central coordination of national security issues seen in the Committee of Imperial Defence , which operated from 1902 until 1947, while also being partly modelled on the United States National Security Council . The first National Security Adviser (NSA)
527-457: The committee stated that the fund was secretive and "There is a risk that the CSSF is being used as a 'slush fund' [for projects that do not] meet the needs of UK national security", fund spending at the country level was disclosed and an annual report produced. In April 2019, an inquiry, which could lead to criminal proceedings, was announced into the leaking to The Daily Telegraph of a decision by
558-399: The decades, on topics such as foreign espionage (a committee report in 1909 led to the founding of MI5 and MI6 ), food rationing, and aerial defence. It is possible to argue that the Committee of Imperial Defence was an important step in the development of national security coordination in the UK, and to see the current National Security Council as one of its descendants. The committee
589-528: The devolved governments, local authorities and external experts are also consulted in preparation for meetings. The size and shape of the National Security Secretariat (NSS) and its senior leadership has fluctuated since its inception in May 2010. From July 2010, there were two Deputy National Security Advisers (DNSAs): Julian Miller for Foreign & Defence Policy and Oliver Robbins for Intelligence, Security & Resilience. By March 2013, Hugh Powell – previously
620-711: The first time in years. As of October 2024, the National Security Council's membership is as follows: Other ministers and senior officials attend the NSC and National Security Ministers (NSM) where applicable. These other figures have been noted to include the Chief of the Defence Staff (not the individual chiefs of each service), the heads of intelligence agencies and the Leader of the Opposition . Stakeholders including
651-569: The government security function / government security profession, supporting both their internal staff, and their client communities. Former bodies in this category include: The Ministry of Defence has primacy for information and cyber security within both its civilian and military staffs (approximately 250,000 personnel), and for the Defence Supply Base (DSB - approximately 30,000 companies). It has two main security organisations: These organisation work collaboratively to publish not only
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#1732868762845682-498: The guidance of Maurice Hankey , the Committee slowly gained in importance. Hankey was appointed Naval Assistant Secretary to the Committee in 1908, and became Secretary to the Committee in 1912; he would hold that position for the next twenty-six years. By 1914, the Committee had begun to act as a defence planning agency for the whole British Empire, consequently providing advice to the Dominions on occasion. It continued to perform such
713-653: The internal rules, but also Defence Standards and Industry Security Notices (ISN) In April 2016, the MOD announced the creation of the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) with a budget of over £40 million. It is located at MoD Corsham . MOD collaborates with the DSB over information and cyber security matters through a number of organisations, including: Former bodies in this category include: The National Cyber Force consolidates offensive cyber capabilities from
744-554: The policies agreed to by the committee were implemented. With the fall of the Balfour Government in December 1905, and with the military services determined to control their own futures, these plans fell through, and with no support from the incoming Prime Minister, he resigned in 1907. A small Secretariat became permanent and provided communication between members outside of Committee meetings, and with other civil servants . Under
775-541: Was also appointed on 12 May 2010. They act as the council's secretary.The incumbent NSA is Sir Tim Barrow . From 1 April 2015 the council oversaw the newly created Conflict, Stability and Security Fund , a fund of more than £1 billion per year for tackling conflict and instability abroad. Following a critical inquiry into the fund by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in 2016, where
806-650: Was an important ad hoc part of the Government of the United Kingdom and the British Empire from just after the Second Boer War until the start of the Second World War . It was responsible for research, and some co-ordination, on issues of military strategy . Typically, a temporary sub-committee would be set up to investigate and report at length on a specific topic. Many such sub-committees were engendered over
837-472: Was announced that Stephen Lovegrove , not Frost, would be appointed as National Security Adviser. In April 2022, Quarrey was appointed as the UK's Permanent Representative to NATO. He was succeeded by Sarah Macintosh. Beth Sizeland was succeeded by Matthew Collins at an unknown date and the title was retitled as Deputy National Security Adviser (Intelligence, Defence and Security). Committee of Imperial Defence The Committee of Imperial Defence
868-534: Was established in 1902 by Arthur Balfour , then British Prime Minister , following the recommendations of St John Brodrick and Lord Selborne , respectively Secretary of State for War and First Lord of the Admiralty . In 1904, on the recommendation of the Esher Committee , it was given a secretariat . The original concept was to create a strategic vision defining the future roles of the two military services,
899-460: Was established on 12 May 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron . The NSC formalised national security decision making, which had previously been carried out in informal groups largely composed of officials. It increased the power of the Prime Minister , who chairs the council, and brought senior Cabinet ministers into national security policy making, giving them access to the highest levels of intelligence. It coordinates responses to threats faced by
930-465: Was relatively brief (circa three months), ending in early April when he returned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Political Director, a move he also announced via Twitter on 8 April. Although unconfirmed publicly by the UK government, Madeleine Alessandri had replaced Moore as the second deputy national security adviser. However, in September 2018, Alessandri's name and appointment was mentioned in
961-427: Was the military assistant to prime minister David Cameron . As of April 2017, it was announced that a diplomat, Christian Turner , had replaced Jenkins as the second Deputy National Security Adviser, with a portfolio comprising 'foreign and defence policy.' According to one of Turner's tweets, dated 13 April 2017, his first week as Deputy National Security Adviser was the week commencing Monday 10 April 2017. Turner