Defence: Internet

James Brokenshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the UK has in (a) supporting and (b) participating in the work of the NATO Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bob Ainsworth
The United Kingdom is fully supportive of this Estonian-hosted Cyber Defence initiative and their endeavours in this important area. However, given the need to co-ordinate Cyber Defence with a number of other Government Departments and Allies, the MOD’s preferred means of support is via virtual participation rather than attach personnel permanently to Estonia. The United Kingdom is not a founding signatory nation to this Centre of Excellence (CoE) but this position will be kept under review.

Both the Head of the MOD Defence Security and Safety Assurance organisation and a senior officer from the MOD’s Joint Security Co-ordination Centre (JSyCC) have visited the Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD CoE) and have subsequently provided additional assistance to its development over the past two years.