Central government will supposedly be as secure as energy facilities and datacenters under new proposals

The UK today launches its Government Cyber Action Plan, committing £210 million ($282 million) to strengthen defenses across digital public services and hold itself to the same cybersecurity standards it's imposing on critical infrastructure operators.

The funding will establish a Government Cyber Unit, led by the UK's CISO and overseen by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), to improve risk identification, incident response, and recovery capabilities.

The unit will also create a dedicated Government Cyber Profession, elevating cybersecurity from its current placement under the broader Government Security Profession.

Announced alongside the second reading of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, the plan subjects government departments to the same security requirements as cloud providers, search engines, and operators of critical infrastructure, including datacenters.

The UK estimates this investment will help save up to £45 billion annually across the public sector. Last year, the government said it expects ...