Bethany Alvaro 
The plan is a new and improved policy to ensure that public services provided by the government are secure from cyber threat actors targeting government infrastructure.
“In today’s volatile world, security extends beyond physical borders into the digital realm. Hostile states and criminal groups are actively probing our defences, seeking to disrupt our way of life and undermine our national interest,” said the UK’s Minister for Technology, Ian Murray.
“Too often, however, we are let down by underlying existing infrastructure which is not adequately resilient. Our legacy systems often cannot be defended by modern cyber security measures.
“Every public sector leader bears direct accountability for this effort; departments must urgently invest in replacing legacy systems and fixing foundational vulnerabilities.”
The plan is backed by the opening of a £210 million (approximately $420 million) Government Cyber Unit that seeks to monitor government bodies that cover public services such as roads, hospitals, and transport. The unit will preside over these institutions to ensure specific cyber policies are being implemented effectively.
Murray said the unit will act as a driving force for the plan in general, “setting much stronger central direction, backing departments with expert support whilst demanding measurable progress”.
The plan highlights a major point of public interest, stating that MPs and senior government officials will be held accountable to a stronger degree in the case of a cyber security fault, instead of blaming technicalities.
This follows a major trend in global cyber security culture, with greater acknowledgement of it as a major aspect of national security.
