Safe, secure and prosperous: a cyber resilience strategy for Scotland

A message from the Deputy First Minister

We all want to see a Scotland where people - at home and at work - benefit from the huge opportunities offered by digital technologies. In 'Scotland's Digital Future: a Strategy for Scotland', the Scottish Government set out how we aim to develop digital public services, grow the digital economy, raise levels of digital participation and improve broadband connectivity so that Scotland can make the most of the digital age.

Our increasing reliance on digital technologies can make us more vulnerable to the criminals who seek to exploit them for malicious purposes. For example, digital technologies can help criminals to bully vulnerable people, sexually exploit children, steal intellectual property, or destroy critical infrastructure. I want us all to take steps to minimise these risks, so that Scotland becomes one of the safest countries in the world to live in and one of the most reliable places to do business with.

The 2014 Programme for Government signalled our intention to produce a strategy for building Scotland's cyber resilience for the benefit of our people and our economy. We have listened to what you said in this summer's public consultation and have worked with a range of experts to develop Safe, Secure and Prosperous: A Cyber Resilience Strategy for Scotland. This strategy sets out the actions we need to take to make Scotland a cyber resilient place to live, work and do business.

This government intends to lead from the front; building our own cyber resilience and working with other public sector organisations to make sure resilience is built in to digital public services. We will also be working with those who provide key services in the private and third sectors to encourage them to make sure they are cyber resilient.

We all have a stake in making Scotland one of the safest places in the world to live and do business, thus ensuring our economy and our people reap the rewards of expanding digital opportunities. I ask all leaders and educators across the public, private and third sectors to regard cyber resilience as vital to their success in our online world.

John Swinney MSP
Deputy First Minister