The UK government has announced a package of “tough new laws” aimed at strengthening cyber-defense for essential public services, including healthcare, water, transport and energy.
Under the proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, companies that provide IT-related services to public-sector institutions will face stronger security obligations. Suppliers deemed critical to national services may be designated by regulators, required to meet defined cyber-standards, and required to report major incidents in a timely manner.
The measure also prevents public-sector organizations from paying ransoms to cybercriminals and places stricter rules on service providers giving them access to networks. A government statement said the annual cost of cyberattacks in the UK is nearly £15 billion, providing a backdrop for the legislative push.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) emphasized that the reforms are part of the government’s plan to reduce disruption, keep services such as healthcare and transport running, and build resilience against both criminal cyber-actors and state-backed threats.
The bill, now introduced to Parliament, represents a move to impose accountability on private-sector suppliers to public services, which have been identified as potential weak links in the national cyber-defense chain.
Read more on Tech Gist Africa:
UK‑GCC Trade Talks Signal New Era for Tech, Data and Digital Services Flows
UK Government Launches £500 Million Fund to Propel Regional Tech Innovation
Groundbreaking UK Tender Aims to Map East Africa’s Start-Up Financing Landscape
