government organizations have easy access to threat information to inform their understanding of
their own cyber risks and take appropriate action.
We will continue to improve our highest classification networks to safeguard the Government’s
most sensitive communications.
CIRT-SL will work closely with the MOD to confront its cyber challenges and contribute to the
wider national cyber security. The Government shall measure its success in protecting
government networks, systems and data by assessing progress towards the following outcomes:
an in-depth understanding of the level of cyber security risk across the whole of
government and the wider public sector;
individual government departments and other bodies protect themselves in proportion to
their level of risk and to an agreed government minimum standard;
government departments and the wider public sector are resilient and can respond
effectively to cyber incidents, maintaining functions and recovering quickly;
new technologies and digital services deployed by government will be cyber secure by
default;
we are aware of, and actively mitigating, all known internet-facing vulnerabilities in
government systems and services; and
all suppliers to the Government meet appropriate cyber security standards.
4.1.4 PROTECTING OUR CRITICAL NATIONAL INFASTRUCTURE(CNI) AND OTHER
PRIORITY SECTORS
The cyber security of certain organizations is of particular importance because a successful
cyber-attack on them would have the severest impact on the country’s national security. This
impact could have a bearing on the lives of citizens, the stability and strength of the economy.
This premium group of companies and organizations within the public and private sector
includes the critical national infrastructure (CNI), which provides essential services to the nation.
Ensuring the CNI is secure and resilient against cyber-attack shall be a priority for the
Government. This premium group also includes other companies and organizations, beyond the
CNI, that require a greater level of support. They include:
the jewels in our economic crown – the most successful companies and also those that
hold our future economic strength in the value of their research and intellectual property;