- UK Government introduces two codes of practice to strengthen AI and software cybersecurity, boosting UK economic security and growth prospects
- New measures for developers will establish a global standard for protecting AI models from hacking, helping businesses innovate and driving economic growth across countries.
- It comes after new figures show the cyber security sector grew 13% last year and is now worth around £12bn
New measures that are expected to establish a global standard on how to better protect AI models from hacking and sabotage have been announced by the UK government today (15 May).
Speaking at CYBERUK, the government's flagship cybersecurity conference, Technology Minister Saquib Bhatti announced two new codes of practice to help developers improve the cybersecurity of their AI models and software, further boosting the UK economy. By growing safely and with a strong foundation, the Government will achieve long-term growth for the UK economy.
The code sets requirements for developers to make their products resistant to tampering, hacking and sabotage, increasing confidence in the use of AI models across most industries and helping businesses improve efficiency. It helps you improve, drive growth, and foster innovation.
Half (50%) of businesses and a third (32%) of charities reported a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months, with phishing remaining the most common type of breach. The code introduced today aims to prevent attacks like the 2023 attack on his MoveIT software, which compromised the sensitive data of thousands of organizations around the world, to build software in a secure manner. Show developers how.
Technology Minister Saqib Bhatti said:
We have always been clear that to harness the huge potential of the digital economy, we need to foster a safe environment for it to grow and develop. This is exactly what we are doing with these new countermeasures, which help make AI models more resilient from the design stage.
Today's report shows that we are not only making our economy more resilient to attack, but also creating prosperity and opportunity for British people at home and abroad. It is great to see such robust growth in the industry and we remain committed to driving the secure and sustainable development of the digital economy, cementing the UK's position as a global leader in cyber security. It will help you.
The new measures come as a new report published today finds that the cybersecurity sector has grown by 13% year-on-year and is now worth around £12bn, on par with sectors such as the car industry. It was carried out in a situation where there was evidence that something was going on.
The findings are reported in the government's annual Cyber Sector Analysis Report, which predicts that the number of UK-based cybersecurity companies will increase in 2023, strengthen the UK's resilience to attacks and support a sustainable economy. This shows that they are driving growth.
New code of practice will improve AI and software cybersecurity, while new government measures on cyber skills will help develop cyber talent and ensure the UK has the talent it needs to protect the country online. do.
NCSC CEO Felicity Oswald said:
To take full advantage of the technological advances that are transforming the way we live, cyber security must be at the heart of digital systems development.
The new code of practice will support the growing cybersecurity industry and help develop AI models and software in a way that ensures resistance to malicious attacks.
Setting security standards helps improve our collective resilience. We recommend that organizations follow these requirements to help keep the UK safe online.
These measures are critical for new businesses in the digital age, ensuring cybersecurity efforts, protecting users' personal data, and fostering global collaboration to strengthen cyber resilience.
The AI Cyber Security Code is intended to form the basis of future global standards.
Rosamund Powell, a research fellow at the Alan Turing Institute, said:
AI systems come with a wide range of cybersecurity risks that often go unaddressed as developers rush to introduce new capabilities. The Code of Practice released today provides much-needed practical support for developers on how to implement a secure-by-design approach as part of their AI design and development process.
Given the central role that international standards already play in addressing AI safety challenges through global consensus, planning to form the basis for global standards is critical. Research highlights the need for inclusive and diverse working groups, with incentives and upskilling for those in need, to ensure the success of these global standards.
Today also marks the publication of the Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) report, which introduces a new microprocessor technology known as the “Magic Chip” that integrates advanced memory protection to prevent up to 70% of today's cyber-attacks. Introducing.
In parallel, Minister Bhatti this morning announced new initiatives on how governments and regulators can professionalize the cybersecurity sector, including incorporating the role of cyber into government recruitment and human resources policies.
The Minister also announced that the UK will develop young people's cyber skills and prepare them for cyber careers by launching a campaign to encourage young people aged 18 to 25 to take part in a brand new national cyber skills competition later this year. He also talked about his intention to stimulate motivation. The winner of this competition will have the opportunity to represent the UK in an international cyber competition.
Note
The work is part of the Government's £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy to protect and promote the UK online.
The Government is also launching a consultation to extend the impact of its successful CyberFirst scheme, which has helped improve the technology skills of 260,000 students in 2,500 schools.
