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The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will tighten cyber defence rules for the UK’s critical infrastructure operators and their key suppliers
The UK government has announced the full scope of its upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which aims to strengthen the country’s digital defences and reduce the growing risks posed by cyber threats.
Set to be introduced later this year, the bill will place tougher cybersecurity requirements on organisations that provide essential services, including hospitals, energy networks, and major IT providers. Over 1,000 suppliers are expected to fall under the new rules, with the goal of boosting resilience across both public services and the wider economy. The government will also gain new powers to direct these companies to act quickly in the face of emerging threats.
The bill was formally announced in the King’s Speech in July last year, shortly after the current Prime Minister took office. The legislation forms a central part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which aims to deliver long-term economic growth by protecting the digital backbone of the UK economy.
“Attempts to disrupt our way of life and attack our digital economy are only gathering pace, and we will not stand by as these incidents hold our future prosperity hostage,” said Technology Secretary Peter Kyle in a press release.
“The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, will help make the UK’s digital economy one of the most secure in the world – giving us the power to protect our services, our supply chains, and our citizens – the first and most important job of any government,” he continued.
The disruption caused by cyberattacks is a major drain on the UK economy. Between 2015 and 2019, cyber threats cost the UK economy almost £22 billion a year, according to the government.
Additionally, the government is considering new cyber protections specifically for data centres, recognising how crucial these have become to the economy, calling them “drivers of economic growth and innovation”. While it is currently unclear what these additional security obligations might be for data centres operators, the government said it was considering ‘the best route to deliver these additional measures.’
Richard Horne, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, called the bill “a pivotal step” in improving the UK’s resilience.
“The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is a landmark moment that will ensure we can improve the cyber defences of the critical services on which we rely every day, such as water, power and healthcare,” he said.
More details, including the full policy statement, will be published later today.
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