25 Section 4 OUR NATIONAL RESPONSE 4.1. To mitigate the multiple threats we face and safeguard our interests in cyberspace, we need a strategic approach that underpins all our collective and individual actions in the digital domain over the next five years. This section sets out our vision and strategic approach. OUR VISION 4.2. Our vision for 2021 is that the UK is secure and resilient to cyber threats, prosperous and confident in the digital world. 4.3. To realise this vision, we will work to achieve the following objectives: • DEFEND We have the means to defend the UK against evolving cyber threats, to respond effectively to incidents, and to ensure UK networks, data and systems are protected and resilient. Citizens, businesses and the public sector have the knowledge and ability to defend themselves. • DETER The UK will be a hard target for all forms of aggression in cyberspace. We detect, understand, investigate and disrupt hostile action taken against us, pursuing and prosecuting offenders. We have the means to take offensive action in cyberspace, should we choose to do so. • DEVELOP We have an innovative, growing cyber security industry, underpinned by worldleading scientific research and development. We have a self-sustaining pipeline of talent providing the skills to meet our national needs across the public and private sectors. Our cutting-edge analysis and expertise will enable the UK to meet and overcome future threats and challenges. 4.4. Underpinning these objectives, we will pursue INTERNATIONAL ACTION and exert our influence by investing in partnerships. We will shape the global evolution of cyberspace in a manner that advances our wider economic and security interests. PRINCIPLES 4.5 In working towards these objectives, the Government will apply the following principles: • our actions and policies will be driven by the need to both protect our people and enhance our prosperity; • we will treat a cyber attack on the UK as seriously as we would an equivalent conventional attack and we will defend ourselves as necessary; • we will act in accordance with national and international law and expect others to do the same; • we will rigorously protect and promote our core values. These include democracy; the rule of law; liberty; open and accountable governments and institutions; human rights; and freedom of expression; • we will preserve and protect UK citizens’ privacy; • we will work in partnership. Only by working with the Devolved Administrations, all parts of the public sector, businesses, institutions, and the individual citizen, can we successfully secure the UK in cyberspace; • the Government will meet its responsibilities and lead the national response, but businesses, organisations and individual citizens National Cyber Security Strategy 2016