Ukrainian cyber security experts meet UK counterparts

The National Cyber Security Centre has held talks with its Ukrainian counterpart about the ongoing conflict in the country and the opportunity to build cyberspace resilience. 

Key figures from the national Computer Emergency Response Team for Ukraine met with members of the NCSC after appearing at the CyberThreat conference in London to discuss what they had learnt from the conflict with Russia.

NCSC Director of Operations, Paul Chichester, said: ‘Ukraine has defended itself resolutely in cyberspace in the face of Russian aggression and the UK has been proud to support that defence. 

‘It is fitting that, here in the UK, we are hosting senior figures involved in Ukraine’s response. We are honoured to do so.’ 

Members from both bodies have worked together throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine including publishing a package of support for organisations to improve their cyber security and maintain IT resilience. 

Russia’s cyber capabilities have long been viewed as a threat by the NCSC with recent cyber-attacks attributed to the state, including the targeting of the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain and an attack on Ukraine’s financial sector. 

Tom Tugendhat, the UK’s Security Minister, said of the Ukrainian delegates that: ‘Their fight against Russian barbarism goes beyond the battlefield and the terror being inflicted on civilian populations. There is the real and persistent threat of a Russian cyberattack on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. 

‘The National Cyber Security Centre’s expertise is world class, and I’m proud of the support they continue to provide our Ukrainian allies.’ 

The UK has strengthened digital partnerships with many international partners recently, including the beginning of an annual tech dialogue with the US and the streamlining of digital regulations with Japan to improve collaboration between tech businesses. 

Part of GCHQ, the NCSC was founded in 2016 and acts as both an advisory body and responder to cyber attacks on organisations in the UK.

Photo by National Cyber Security Centre