National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is an agency of the British Government devoted to the protection of the United Kingdom’s infrastructure, citizens and businesses from cyber-attacks. Established in 2016 as the operational arm of the Government’s National Cyber Security Programme, the NCSC acts as a single point of contact for the cyber security of the nation.

The NCSC works to ensure the safety and security of the nation’s digital environment, protecting citizens, businesses and infrastructure from cyber-attacks and other malicious activities. As the lead government agency, the NCSC has the authority to work with partners across the private sector and law enforcement to ensure a coordinated response to threats against the UK’s digital assets.

The NCSC is responsible for developing strategies, processes and plans to protect outward-facing systems, including those dealing with personal data, official documents, taxation systems, and critical infrastructure, such as energy and telecommunications networks. NCSC also develops and manages national cyber security policies and programmes, provides intelligence to guide defensive measures, and works on making public services more resilient in the face of attack.

The NCSC also runs regular cyber security campaigns to educate the public and raise awareness on cyber safety measures which can be implemented to protect oneself from emerging cyber threats.

The NCSC is a public sector organisation operating within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It is based at the Victoria Embankment in London and employs over 500 people as of 2020.

The NCSC was established following a number of high-profile cyber-attacks on the UK, such as the WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware attacks. The Centre has since developed stronger partnerships and sharing across a range of industries. It has also set up a number of initiatives to improve public and private sectors’ cyber security capabilities, including industry-specific guidance for businesses and public organisations.