NC May-Jun 2022
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OPINION: CYBER RESILIE<strong>NC</strong>E<br />
STRENGTHENING THE UK'S CYBERSECURITY RESILIE<strong>NC</strong>E<br />
NEW LAWS ARE BEING PROPOSED BY THE UK GOVERNMENT TO DRIVE SECURITY STANDARDS IN<br />
OUTSOURCED IT SERVICES USED BY ALMOST ALL UK BUSINESSES<br />
The proposed laws come in the wake<br />
of recent high profile cyber attacks<br />
targeting SolarWinds and Microsoft<br />
Exchange Servers, which highlighted<br />
vulnerabilities in third-party products and<br />
services which can be exploited by<br />
cybercriminals. Mike Foster, Channel<br />
Manager, VIPRE explains how these laws<br />
will affect the channel market and help to<br />
strengthen the country's cyber resilience,<br />
with MSPs taking on a more important<br />
trusted advisor role than ever before.<br />
THE ROLE OF THE TRUSTED<br />
ADVISOR<br />
Since 2018, Network and Information<br />
Systems (NIS) Regulations have been in<br />
force to improve the cybersecurity of<br />
companies which provide essential<br />
services, such as water, energy, transport,<br />
healthcare and digital infrastructure. These<br />
regulations require such businesses to<br />
undertake risk assessments, put in place<br />
reasonable security measures to protect<br />
their network, and report any significant<br />
incidents whilst having plans in place to<br />
recover if an attack occurs. Those who fail<br />
to implement effective cybersecurity<br />
measures can be fined as much as £17<br />
million. However, the government now<br />
wants to widen the list of companies that<br />
comply with such measures to include<br />
Managed Service Providers (MSPs).<br />
With more businesses undergoing digital<br />
transformations and shifting to the cloud,<br />
which was accelerated over the pandemic<br />
as a means to survive, there has been an<br />
increase in dependence on MSPs to act as<br />
a business' trusted advisor to assist them<br />
on their digital journey. These IT partners<br />
are also crucial in boosting the growth of<br />
the country's £150.6 billion digital sector,<br />
and therefore play a monumental role in<br />
the economy.<br />
Outsourced IT<br />
services<br />
should<br />
create a<br />
solid<br />
cyber<br />
security strategy for the businesses who<br />
choose them. Security standards should<br />
therefore be high - especially to battle the<br />
ever-developing and innovative<br />
cybersecurity market, with new<br />
methodology and tactics constantly<br />
evolving from hackers. As highlighted in the<br />
Government's recent announcement: "Every<br />
UK organisation must take their cyber<br />
resilience seriously as we strive to grow,<br />
innovate and protect people<br />
online. Additionally,<br />
outsourced IT<br />
providers have<br />
the<br />
28 NETWORKcomputing MAY/JUNE <strong>2022</strong> @<strong>NC</strong>MagAndAwards<br />
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