Cyber resilience in Defence – the importance of a whole force approach

The world of warfare has changed considerably in recent years - and the days of trudging around as an infantryman, PRC349 radio at hand, are well gone. The battlefield has evolved into an environment that relies on our defenders being able to operate with a fourth dimension: Cyber.

A secure Defence relies on digitally-enabled capability to succeed, and it is this that we must protect at all costs.

I am therefore reassured to see that Defence’s new Cyber Resilience Strategy is front and centre in the minds of those tasked with protecting our nation. It is also important that the MOD has recognised this is a ‘team effort’, tying in industry, the Government, Allies and Partners. 

This strategy will redefine the relationship between Defence and industry, and I am hopeful that it will encourage a more agile approach to development and one that will be able to morph and respond, quickly, to emerging threats.

Defence Digital has already started the ‘secure by design’ journey and Electranet is one of several partners that is supporting the development of an approach that will enhance security, ensuring that it is being considered and built in from the outset. Combating the cyber threat is critical and on the battlefield it will ensure that other digitally enabled kinetic assets have the freedom to operate.