National Cyber Force reveals how it keeps the UK safe
The National Cyber Force (NCF) has, for the first time, disclosed how it keeps the UK safe by conducting cyber operations.
Set up in 2020, the NCF is a partnership between GCHQ and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and works to support military operations, disrupt terrorists and serious criminals and counter threats to the UK.
After the Government published the Integrated Review Refresh, the NCF published a transparent account of their cyber capabilities.
Central to the NCF's approach is the "doctrine of cognitive effect".
This means using techniques that have the potential to sow distrust, decrease morale and weaken an enemy's plan.
An example may be preventing a terrorist group from publishing and distributing media online or making it harder for a state to spread disinformation.
Sir Jeremy Fleming, Director of GCHQ, said "to be a truly responsible cyber power, nations must be able to contest and compete with adversaries in cyberspace".
"In the UK, the National Cyber Force complements the UK's world-class cyber resilience to give the country operational cyber capabilities at the scale needed to protect our free, open, and peaceful society," he said.
"With the threat growing and the stakes higher than ever before, we hope this document provides a benchmark for the UK’s approach and a basis for like-minded governments to come together internationally to establish a shared vision and values for the responsible use of cyber operations."
The NCF works covertly, not revealing details of any operations – sometimes intending for adversaries to not realise the effects they are experiencing are the result of a cyber operation.
However, they did reveal that over the last three years, they have worked to:
- protect military deployments overseas
- disrupt terrorist groups
- counter sophisticated, stealthy and continuous cyber threats
- counter state disinformation campaigns
- reduce the threat of external interference in democratic elections
- remove child sexual abuse material from public spaces online
The operations are conducted in a legal and ethical manner and align with domestic and international law.
General Sir Jim Hockenhull, Commander of Strategic Command, said the NCF is "a crucial tool in our integrated approach to national security and our defence of the UK".
"Working across Government and with our international allies is vital. There is a power in partnerships, and we must go further to out-cooperate and out-compete states that are driving instability," he said.
The NCF also revealed its commander for the first time.
James Babbage, an intelligence officer with GCHQ for 30 years, has led the NCF since it was formed in 2020.
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