UK hosts global security talks, UK businesses vulnerable to cybercrime

TLDR:

• Almost half of businesses in the UK lack the skills needed to protect against cybercrime.
• The UK government is convening global security talks to address the skills gap and improve cyber defenses.

The UK government has warned that nearly half of businesses in the UK lack the necessary skills to defend themselves against cybercrime. The Cyber Security Minister, Feryal Clark, has attributed this gap to the previous government’s failure to strengthen cyber laws. As a response, the government is hosting global security talks to discuss how to enhance cyber security workforces worldwide.

Clark announced £1.3 million in funding for organizations to provide cyber skills training and support the development of new innovations in cyber defense. The Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market Survey revealed that while the annual shortfall in the UK’s cyber workforce has decreased, a significant number of businesses still lack fundamental cyber skills. Various sectors within the security industry are facing technical skills gaps, with some areas showing improvement while others present challenges.

Overall, the UK government is committed to addressing the skills gap and strengthening cyber defenses to protect the nation from cyber threats and safeguard the economy and public services. The global security talks aim to facilitate collaboration among global allies to improve cyber skills and enhance online safety.