Cyber Incident Response Program Initiated by GCHQ
The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has recently introduced a new Cyber Incident Response scheme, aimed at enhancing the cyber security of the United Kingdom. This initiative, announced by the newly appointed Minister for Cyber Security, Chloe Smith, on January 14, 2023, is a collaborative effort between GCHQ, the Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI).
Four companies have been selected to work in partnership on the scheme: BAE Systems Detica, Cassidian, Context IS, and Mandiant. These companies will respond to cyber incidents, analyse and contain them, clean them up, and produce an incident report with recommendations to prevent recurrence.
According to Alex Church, technical director at Context Information Security, the Cyber Incident Response scheme is a positive move by CESG/CPNI to harness the skills and expertise of companies like Context. Context IS, an independent information security consultancy, has been providing technical assurance, targeted attack detection, response, investigation, and mitigation services since 2007.
The scheme is primarily aimed at public sector organisations and those forming part of the UK's critical national infrastructure. However, the private sector may also find the service useful. Chloe Smith stated that the growing cyber threat makes it inevitable that some attacks will get through, either where basic security is not implemented, or when an organisation is targeted by a highly capable attacker.
The Cyber Incident Response scheme builds on the '10 steps to Cyber Security' guidance, which was launched in September and provides organisations with advice on the basic measures to increase cyber security within their organisations. Organisations notified of attacks or those interested in getting advice about detection and mitigation will now have a clear pointer to specialist help, according to Alex Church.
Chloe Smith, in her statement, emphasised that the Cyber Incident Response scheme is good for security, good for business, and good for the UK's prosperity. She also highlighted that together, GCHQ, CPNI, the incident response industry, and victims of cyber attacks can improve the cyber security of the UK.
In conclusion, the new Cyber Incident Response scheme launched by GCHQ is a significant step towards strengthening the UK's cyber security infrastructure. By partnering with leading companies in the field and providing a clear response mechanism for organisations facing cyber threats, the scheme aims to protect the UK's digital landscape and ensure its continued prosperity.
