23 October 2024
The UK’s cybersecurity chief is urging allies and partners to join forces and close the widening gap between escalating cyber threats and our collective ability to defend against them.
Richard Horne, the newly appointed head of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), called for greater global resilience in the face of increasingly complex and aggressive online security threats while speaking at Singapore International Cyber Week.
“Increased dependence on technology is driving growth and transforming societies, creating exciting new opportunities. It also exposes us to greater cyber risks. Without collective action, we risk widening the gap between the escalating threats to our societies, critical services, and businesses, and our ability to defend and be resilient,” said Horne. “The threat landscape is growing more complex, with significant incidents on the rise. To close this gap, we need coordinated global efforts to strengthen cyber resilience, ensure security is built into technology from the outset, and prepare both the public and private sectors to not only defend but also recover swiftly from destructive cyber-attacks.”
Horne also highlighted that the rapid expansion of cyber capabilities – previously confined to nation-states and well-resourced actors – has significantly broadened the threat landscape. In 2024, the NCSC has already responded to 50% more nationally significant incidents compared to last year, as well as a threefold increase in severe incidents.
