Cyber resilience: private sector action plan 2018-2020

Foreword

Private Sector Action Plan

Digital technology offers huge opportunities for Scotland as a modern, progressive nation.

Our ability to inform and interact with citizens and consumers is being transformed by the digital world, and Scotland’s private sector is developing ambitious plans to embrace these opportunities.

Scotland’s digital strategy makes clear our determination to ensure that our businesses continue to prosper in an increasingly connected and competitive world.

But these opportunities also bring new threats and vulnerabilities that we must take decisive action to manage.

The cyber threat is growing. I regard it as vital to our ambitions as a modern, digital nation that our businesses, large and small, understand that threat, and are supported to take steps to protect themselves.

No organisation, however large or small, is immune. Cyber attacks are as real a risk to the small, rural bakery that relies on a database of customers to distribute its goods as they are to multinational banking organisations in our financial districts.

This action plan sets out how we will work in partnership with Scotland’s private sector to help tackle the cyber threat. Key to success will be the willingness of Scotland’s businesses, charities and public sector organisations to work in partnership to raise fundamental levels of cyber resilience across Scotland.

Alongside our action plans on Learning and Skills and Third and Public Sector Cyber Resilience, this plan represents an important step towards our ambition for Scotland to be a world-leading nation in cyber-resilience.

I look forward to working with Scotland’s private sector, and our partners in the UK and internationally, to help make this a reality.

John Swinney MSP
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills