The Government’s Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey has launched the annual Cyber Governance Health Check for this. The ‘Health Check’ is aimed at improving the cyber security of the UK’s 350 largest businesses, in wake of the TalkTalk attack in October. The health check is designed as part of the Government’s five-year £860m National Cyber Security Programme.
Speaking at a security summit in London yesterday, Ed Vaizey said: “With more and more of our daily transactions done online, keeping our personal data safe is a top priority for this Government. Our Cyber Health Check will help the UK’s biggest firms strengthen their cyber security and ensure they continue to thrive in our growing digital economy.”
The 2014 health check data showed that compared to the previous year, more companies were receiving regular high-level security intelligence from their CIO or Head of Security, and were more aware of how and where critical information was shared with important third parties. However, not enough companies performed any review of the data they held to consider the legal, ethical, or security implications of holding that data. Following the 2015 Cyber Governance Health Check, the Government hopes to see improved results across the board when compared to 2014.
Results of the health check are to be published early next year.
Alongside the cyber health check, the Government is urging businesses of all sizes to follow the Government’s cyber security guidance and adopt the Cyber Essentials scheme in order to better protect themselves and their customers.