24 October 2017
Businesses in Jersey will be able to access a new way to share information about potential cyber security threats.
Following discussions with the States of Jersey and the States of Guernsey, the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has agreed to create a Channel Islands section of its Cyber Information Sharing Partnership (CiSP).
Any local businesses wanting to take advantage of this opportunity are invited to attend a States-run workshop on 27 October 2017. To reserve a place free of charge, visit the Eventbrite website.
Eventbrite: Cyber Security Workshop
The cyber threat is a tier one risk to national security and the NCSC was created in 2016 to make the UK the safest place to live and work online. Operating as part of GCHQ, it responded to more than 590 significant cyber incidents in its first year.
CiSP provides a secure virtual forum for Government and industry partners to exchange information on threats and vulnerabilities in real time. This will enable businesses from the Channel Islands to access the latest information about national and global threats, as well as giving them the opportunity to share relevant local information.
The Assistant Chief Minister, Senator Paul Routier, said “If Jersey is to continue to thrive as a prosperous and stable economy in the 21st century, we will need to ensure that we have the strongest possible grounding in cyber security and resilience. The opportunity to participate in the UK Government’s Cyber Information Sharing Partnership is a valuable step on the road to achieving this goal. Together with Guernsey, we will now have an opportunity to share learning and information with partners in the UK.
“By increasing the scope of our own understanding of current cyber security threats, we can strengthen both Government’s and industry’s defences against known attacks. An incident at a single company has the potential to damage the reputation of the entire Island, so it is in everyone’s interests for firms to cooperate. If businesses are aware of potential threats, they are better able to take steps to defend against possible attacks.”
NCSC Deputy Director for Digital Government, Alison Whitney, added “We are delighted to help people from the Channel Islands to quickly and securely exchange threat information. There is no system in the world that is completely secure, and the UK faces cyber attacks of various types every day.
“CiSP has proven to be an invaluable resource during large-scale cyber incidents. 23,000 people visited it during the WannaCry ransomware outbreak, providing up to the minute mitigation advice whilst also debunking false rumours.”
The launch of the Channel Islands section of CiSP is the first of several initiatives in the Government’s cyber security strategy that will be introduced to strengthen the Island’s cyber security and ensure that Jersey remains a safe place in which to live and do business.
The NCSC provides a single, central body for cyber security at a national level. It manages national cyber security incidents, carries out real-time threat analysis and provides tailored sectoral advice.
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