Electricity generated from nuclear power will play a vital role in the UK and as the sector’s importance and size increases, making it more crucial than ever that civil nuclear organisations and their suppliers protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and plan for cyber incidents, a government report says.

The report, 2022 Civil Nuclear Cyber Security Strategy, sets out an “ambitious” vision and five year roadmap of activities for the UK’s civil nuclear sector – including the need for an industry-wide live cyber incident response exercise.

The report calls for the nuclear sector to prioritise cyber security and to take proactive action to mitigate cyber risks in the face of evolving threats. The sector should increase its resilience by preparing for, and responding collaboratively to cyber incidents, while developing cyber skills and promoting a security culture.