Government to give UK businesses cyber security boost with £36m project

The government has announced a new £36m project to strengthen cyber security measures for UK businesses and the public.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom announced the next phase of the government’s Digital Security by Design initiative, which will see £36m invested into making the UK a ‘world leader’ in tackling cyber threats.

The government has partnered with Internet of Things (IoT) specialist Arm to develop new chip technologies that are more resistant to cyber threats.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom explained: “Cyber-criminals operate in the shadows, with the severity, scale and complexity of breaches constantly evolving.

“It’s critical that we are ahead of the game and developing new technologies and methods to confront future threats, supporting our businesses and giving them peace of mind to deliver their products and services safely.

“Investing in our world-leading researchers and businesses to develop better defence systems makes good business and security sense.”

The Digital Security by Design initiative, which is backed by tech giants Google and Microsoft, was initially announced in July in a bid to combat online threats and protect UK citizens and businesses from cyber attacks.

Minister for Digital and Broadband Matt Warman added: “The government wants the UK to be the safest place to be online and the best place to start and grow a digital business.

“As these investments show, we are determined to create the right environment to foster our thriving digital economy while giving people renewed confidence and trust in online services.

“We will always be firm in our support for the UK’s tech sector. Thanks to our work with the UK’s world-leading academic institutions and our business-friendly environment, we are helping entrepreneurs use technology to improve people’s lives and find solutions to future challenges.”