UK cyber-strategy suffers as spooks meet the suits

Significant efforts are being made by the UK government and GCHQ to address the issues associated with the 'National Cyber Security Strategy'. These efforts are being made, as the initiative is being accused by some of the private sector companies of becoming confused, lacking clear direction, and specifically failing to help SMEs. The pressing need for a national cyber-security effort is being felt in the country, as the 2013 PwC Cyber-security Breaches Survey has revealed that 93% of large UK companies and 87% of SMEs have suffered a data breach in the previous 12 months. GCHQ and other agencies, such as the Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) have been reaching out more to the industry to address these issues by initiating a series of joint private/public sector initiatives. These include efforts to make SME firms and boardrooms fully aware of the cyber-threat, better threat information sharing between the public and private sector, and the latest Cyber Incident Response scheme.