NCSC handled over 1,000 cybercrime incidents in 12 months

The NCSC, part of Government Communications Headquarters (DCHQ), brought together elements of its parent organisation with previously separate parts of government and intelligence to create a single, one-stop-shop for UK cyber security.

It was created as part of the five-year National Cyber Security Strategy (NCSS) announced in 2016, supported by £1.9billion of transformational investment. While operational since October 2016, the NCSC’s new London headquarters were opened by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in February 2017. As well as co-ordinating the government’s response to 590 significant incidents, the NCSC has prevented waves of attacks through its Active Cyber Defence programme.

In its first 12 months, the organisation has blocked millions of attacks every week by industry partner implementing NCSC’s Active Cyber Defence programme, produced more than 200,000 protective items for Armed Forces communications, and enrolled 1,000 youngsters on free CyberFirst courses

Director of GCHQ Jeremy Fleming said: “In an increasingly digital world, cyber is playing an ever more important part in our daily lives and in the UK’s approach to security. The threats to the UK are evolving rapidly as technology advances. Our response has been to transform to stay ahead of them.

“The NCSC is a pivotal part of that transformation. It is a critical component not only of GCHQ, where it benefits from the data and expertise it has access to as part of the intelligence community, but of how the government as a whole works to keep the UK safe.

“The NCSC has brought together unparalleled skills, capabilities and partnerships and in its first year has made enormous strides in increasing and improving our cyber capabilities. It is in the front line in protecting the UK against a growing number of cyber attacks.”

CEO of NCSC Ciaran Martin added: “Cyber security is crucial to our national security and to our prosperity. We’re incredibly proud of what we have achieved in our first year at the National Cyber Security Centre, bringing together some of the best cyber security brains in the country in a single place.

“But the threat remains very real and growing - further attacks will happen and there is much more for us to do to make the UK the safest place in the world to live and do business online.

“We look forward to working with our partners at home and abroad in the year ahead in pursuit of that vital goal.”