University of Worcester urges improvements to cyber security
The government wants threats to be treated like financial and legal issues
Last updated 24th Jan 2024
Businesses across the UK have been given new advice on how to improve their cyber defences against ongoing threats the country currently faces.
The Government has urged places to consider cyber issues as a key business risk, in the same way as financial or legal challenges.
A draft code of practice on cyber security has been published in partnership with industry experts and the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and will advise senior leaders to make cyber security issues a key focus for their business.
NCSC has repeatedly warned of the ongoing cyber threat to the UK, particularly from ransomware attacks, and the new code suggests firms should have detailed plans in place to respond to and recover from any potential cyber incidents.
Chief executive of NCSC Lindy Cameron said: "Cyber security is no longer a niche subject or just the responsibility of the IT department, so it is vital that CEOs and directors understand the risks to their organisation and how to mitigate potential threats.
"This new cyber governance code of practice will help ensure cyber resilience is put at the top of the agenda for organisations and I'd encourage all directors, non-executive directors, and senior leaders to share their views.
"Senior leaders can also access the NCSC's cyber security board toolkit, which provides practical guidance on how to implement the actions outlined in the code, to ensure effective management of cyber risks."
The University of Worcester have also opened up a new cyber security lab to help prepare their students for real life situations dealing with online safety and security.
Plans were made for the degree to start in 2024, but due to a popular uptake they had to move the date forward a year, along with the new building.
Head of Computing Richard Wilkinson says that the current situation facing the UK with regards to online safety is a growing concern.
He said: "It's massively important for us to learn these ways of staying safe against cyber threats.
"The latest department of Science Innovation Technology Reports said that 50% of businesses have a basic cyber security need and 33% have an advanced issue which aren't being addressed properly.
"There's over an 11,000 shortfall in people working in the cyber security industry and just last year alone there was 160,000 jobs advertised, so we need to train our students up to fill those gaps."
On what the degree and lab will bring to the university Wilkinson added: "It's really exciting and fun the things that can be done and tried there in this lab.
"It has no access to the outside world so nothing can get out of it, and is all safe, that way the students can get a real first hand knowledge and first hand experience of what's going to happen when they go out into the world of cyber security experts."