The UK’s new national cybersecurity center will be led by GCHQ cyber boss Ciaran Martin, and kick off its work with the Bank of England producing advice for the financial services sector, the government has revealed.
The center, which was announced by the chancellor last November, will be based in London and opened in October.
Martin, who is current director general cyber at GCHQ, will be joined by colleague Ian Levy, who is the spy agency’s technical director.
He was named in the same role at the new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
One of the main roles of the center will be to engage with the private sector more effectively – an area where the government has traditionally struggled when it comes to information security.
In so doing it will look to communicate policy, kick start dialogue which shapes service delivery, and be prepared to listen to the other side when necessary, according to the government.
Cabinet office minister, Matthew Hancock, said in a statement that the NCSC would transform the UK’s approach to an issue which now affects everyone in the country.
“This important work with the Bank of England is paramount to ensuring that businesses of all shapes and sizes understand the threats and what they can do to mitigate them,” he said.
“We’ll do this by informing the entire business community and public sector about emerging threats, providing support when attacks happen and educating everyone on how best to stay safe online.”
GCHQ director, Robert Hannigan, took time out to praise Martin for his work at the agency in helping to protect the UK’s national security and economic success.
“Given the industrial-scale theft of intellectual property from our companies and universities, as well as the numerous phishing and malware scams that waste time and money, the National Cyber Security Centre shows that the UK is focusing its efforts to combat the threats that exist online,” he added.