NCC Group welcomes the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR)

The UK Government this week launched the independent expert-led Strategic Defence Review (SDR), a landmark assessment of Britain's defence strategy considering current, evolving and future threats to the UK at home and abroad, and the investment, capabilities and transformation needed to meet them. 

While the review outlines 62 recommendations, the UK’s Defence Secretary has committed to implementing these, to move the nation to “war readiness”.  

Across its 140 pages, the review highlights “daily cyber attacks at home” as a clear indication of the more serious and less predictable threat the UK faces, and emphasises cyber as being “at the heart of modern warfare” that must be given greater attention.  

Key cyber related aspects of the review include: 

• A move towards an integrated, whole-of-society approach to deterrence and defence;  
• The crucial importance of hardening critical Defence functions to cyber attack, and retiring legacy systems to reduce levels of cyber risk as well as improving the protection of Critical National Infrastructure;  
• More than £1bn investment in a new Digital Targeting Web, to be delivered by 2027, to connect sensors, deciders and effectors, integrate capabilities and improve communications across domains, and enable faster battlefield decisions;  
• The establishment of a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command with initial operating capability by the end of 2025. CyberEM will lead defensive cyber options and coordinate offensive cyber capabilities with the National Cyber Force, and harness all Armed Forces’ expertise in electromagnetic warfare, to “defend Britain in the grey zone” and act as a single military point of contact for all things cyber across the Armed Forces;  
• The development foundational cyber skills; of specialist AI and cyber skills central to modern warfighting (including through industry secondments), and better promotion of cyber specialist roles available in the Reserves;  
• Concerted efforts to unlock private capital and expertise, and develop regional clusters for specific technologies, including cyber in Manchester 

Mike Maddison, CEO at NCC Group comments: 

"The UK’s latest Strategic Defence Review marks a significant step forward in strengthening national cyber security. The government’s commitment to invest over £1bn in both defensive and offensive cyber capabilities - which the Defence Secretary summarised as ‘properly funding Britain’s defences for the modern age’, is something we strongly welcome. 

“We’ve long advocated for a unified combatant cyber command to cohere and command cyber defences, so it’s encouraging to see the creation of the Cyber and Electromagnetic Command (CyberEM). This reflects the evolving nature of global threats, where cyber warfare is now an essential element of a hybrid cyber-kinetic battlefield. While the feared ‘cybergeddon’ has yet to materialise, daily threats from hostile actors underscore the urgency of cyber resilience. 

“As the UK harnesses emerging technologies like AI to enhance its defences, it is crucial that security, safety, and resilience remain at the core of innovation. With world-leading institutions like the National Cyber Force, a strong academic foundation, and Britain’s thriving cyber industry, the UK is in a strong position to put cyber at the heart of its modern defences. We are proud to be part of Manchester’s cyber excellence, and look forward to playing our part to inject expertise, skills and capabilities into the UK’s Armed Forces.”