British PM throws his weight behind UK cyber security industry
With instances of cyber crime on the rise, demonstrated in spectacular fashion over the course of 2014; a year defined by DDOS attacks and hacking scandals; an increasing number of organisations and government agencies have vowed to remove the kid gloves and get serious about tackling the rising tide of cyber criminality.
One of the highest profile agencies to step into the ring and start hitting back at the hackers is the UK government. David Cameron, the current British Prime Minister, has vowed to improve computer security in the UK, strengthening the country’s cyber security industry in a bid to prevent future incursions.
While US president Barack Obama is still fine-tuning his plan of action, Cameron has already laid out measures he hopes will aid UK businesses in improving their computer security. His plans do not just include protection, Cameron is also hoping to foster a new crop of UK-based cyber security specialists, turning the country into a world-leading computer security provider that can tap into the bountiful US market.
During a recent stopover in the US for talks with President Barack Obama, Cameron was trailed by an entourage of UK cyber security firms. These firms, in an effort to plant roots in the US and establish connections in the sector, were invited to spend time getting to know their US counterparts.
As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen ties between security companies in the UK and the US, freshly appointed UK cyber envoy Andy Williams will set up shop in the British Embassy’s Washington branch. According to techUK, this appointment will help build on the work done by the Cyber Growth Partnership (a government, industry and academia led coalition that work together to improve the UK’s cyber security sector) in the region.
“The UK has a rich and diverse cyber security sector with many innovative companies being started every year,” remarked Ruth Davis, techUK’s head of cyber, emergency, and justice services at techUK.
“We are very pleased to see the government throwing its weight behind British businesses and helping them to break into the US market. We look forward to working with Andy Williams as he champions UK companies in the US.”
