A range of measures were unveiled at the NCSC’s annual CyberUK conference, including initiatives dedicated to technical policies, as well as new secure hardware products and programmes to boost skills

The government has unveiled new guidelines intended to boost protections of artificial intelligence models.

The two new codes of practice are designed to help developers build secure-by-design software, that is resilient against hacking or sabotage. The government hopes that the rules will help set a global standard which, in turn, will boost confidence across industries and “turbocharge innovation”.

The measures were launched by ministers at the government’s recent annual security conference, CYBERUK – which is run by the National Cyber Security Centre.

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NCSC chief executive Felicity Oswald said: “To make the most of the technological advances which stand to transform the way we live, cyber security must be at the heart of how we develop digital systems. Setting standards for our security will help improve our collective resilience and I commend organisations to follow these requirements to help keep the UK safe online. These measures are crucial for new businesses in the digital age, ensuring cybersecurity commitment, safeguarding personal data for users, and fostering global alignment for enhanced cyber resilience.”

Also trailed at the cyber conference was new microprocessor technology known as the “magic chip” has been introduced as part of the Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) report, which experts claim is capable of preventing up to 70% of current cyberattacks.

Initiatives to “professionalise” the cybersecurity sector and bridge the skills gap were also announced, including the incorporation of additional cyber roles into government recruitment and HR policies.

Separately, the UK will launch a new national cyber skills competition for 18–25-year-olds later this year, with the winners representing the UK at international cyber events.