Digital Catapult has received £1.1m in funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to help UK cyber security startups and SMEs grow.
The name of the initiative is Cyber 101, withthe programme part of the Government’s £1.9 billion National Cyber Security Strategy to protect the UK by developing and encouraging a strong cyber security industry.
The injection of funding is intended to help cyber security startups manage, survive and pass the challenging early stages of the business lifestyle, and ultimately succeed.
The delivery of the project will involve a number of consortium partners who are experienced in the development of cyber businesses. The Accelerator Network and the VTC Group are examples partners working on the project, which will run between February and March 2017.
The content of the project will involve intensive one day workshops, online learning and the building of connections with both public and private customers, as well as the investment community.
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Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said: “I’m delighted to announce up to £1.1m Government funding to help our small and medium cyber security firms get the support they need to grow their businesses. This will help keep us at the forefront of the global fight against cyber threats and attacks”.
This government action towards strengthening national cyber security comes at a time when the world is gearing towards similar action, with the US government looking to the private sector to ramp up its security processes.
Dr Jeremy Silver, the CEO of Digital Catapult said that: “Cyber security is a tier one threat in the UK with the threat landscape evolving at a rapid pace. The Government is committed to supporting the UK’s ability to defend itself from cyber-attack and take action against cybercriminals. A significant part of this comes down to removing barriers to growth and supporting innovation in this space, in turn helping foster leading cyber security companies in UK. The Cyber 101 programme is specifically designed to help achieve these aims.”
