U.K to increase spending on cybersecurity

Britain will have no option but to invest in better cyber-security, the Defense Secretary told MPs this week.

John Leyden writes that an awkwardly worded reply by Defense Secretary Liam Fox to questions in the House of Commons suggests that cuts in information security spending are not on the agenda for the Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR), which is due to report back in the autumn. On the contrary, Britain is looking to boost its capabilities in the area

Cyber-security is an important element of the SDSR and has already had considerable consideration. Decisions on enhancing our capabilities will form part of the review, which we will announce to the House later this autumn.

Developing a military cyber-security policy should not be the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense alone, Fox added.

Investing in better cyber-security will not be an option for the United Kingdom. What is being considered under the National Security Council as part of the SDSR is how that occurs. We will face increasing threats in cyberspace in the years ahead-the question is how we identify the weakest areas, which need to be looked at first, and how we develop the technologies so that, as the other technologies that might affect us continue to evolve, we are best protected. That will require us to look at research across the board.

The exchange, which occurred during defense questions in the House of Commons on Monday, is recorded by Hansard here.