Expanding the Cyber First programme: speech by Matt Hancock

The Minister for Cabinet Office Matt Hancock spoke on cyber security and expanding the Cyber First programme at the Institute of Directors.

It’s incredibly fitting that we’re meeting today in this wonderful building, with its rich history. Until 1978 this was home to the United Service Club for senior military personnel – who 75 years ago were defending our homes, businesses and way of life against foreign aggressors.

I’m told Ian Fleming was a regular here while he served, and I can’t help but think of a line from the new cyber-savvy Q in Skyfall:

I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pyjamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.

I’m glad to see you all made it out of your pyjamas this morning. But Q had a point. It’s not just soldiers, sailors, airmen, and policemen we need to protect our assets and livelihoods today. Today a line of code can ruin lives just as any bomb or bullet.

In a digital, interconnected world, we need the involvement of everyone in society to keep that society safe – particularly the leaders of the business world.

Much of our critical national infrastructure is in your hands, critical infrastructure like our energy and water supplies, our transport system and our phones.

And it goes beyond that, increasingly to our e-mail and social media correspondence, even our credit card details and online accounts.

With the advent of smart products and intelligent environments, this smart world already includes my watch, and one day soon perhaps my fridge or my car.

If the predictions are true and 200 billion smart devices exist in the world in 2020, we are going to rely hugely on the private sector to keep us safe in cyberspace.

In protecting this infrastructure the interests of government and business align. We are all invested in the success of the digital economy and we all have a shared responsibility to keep it secure.