The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is the UK's update to cyber security regulation, expanding scope beyond the original NIS Regulations. It covers more sectors, strengthens requirements, and increases enforcement powers. If you're in critical services or their supply chain, it likely affects you.
Quick answer: The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is the UK's update to cyber security regulation, expanding scope beyond the original NIS Regulations. It covers more sectors, strengthens requirements, and increases enforcement powers. If you're in critical services or their supply chain, it likely affects you.
Background
Current state: UK cyber security regulation comes from the 2018 NIS Regulations, implementing the EU NIS Directive. Post-Brexit, the UK is updating its approach.
The Bill: Introduced in 2024, expected to become law 2025-2026. It modernises the UK's cyber resilience framework for essential services and digital providers.
Key Changes
Expanded scope
More organisations covered:- Managed Service Providers (MSPs) brought into scope
- Data centres as critical infrastructure
- Expanded essential services definitions
- Supply chain obligations strengthened
Stronger requirements
What's expected:- Risk management measures
- Incident reporting (faster timelines)
- Supply chain security
- Business continuity and recovery
- Regular security assessments
Enhanced enforcement
Regulators get more power:- Proactive investigation powers
- Larger fines (potentially 10% of turnover)
- Cost recovery from regulated entities
- Powers to require specific actions
Incident reporting
Tighter timelines:- Initial notification within 24 hours
- Full report within 72 hours
- Post-incident review requirements
Who's Affected
Definitely in scope
- Operators of Essential Services (energy, transport, health, water, digital infrastructure)
- Relevant Digital Service Providers
- Managed Service Providers serving in-scope organisations
- Data centre operators
Likely affected
- IT suppliers to essential services
- Cloud service providers
- Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs)
- Critical technology vendors
Potentially affected
- Supply chain to covered organisations
- Organisations providing services to government
- Digital service businesses meeting thresholds
MSP Implications
MSPs are explicitly being brought into scope.
If you're an MSP:
- Expect regulatory requirements
- Supply chain security obligations
- Incident notification requirements
- Potential for increased customer due diligence
- Ask about their compliance preparation
- Understand your supply chain obligations
- Include security requirements in contracts
What to Do Now
If likely in scope
1. Understand your position:
- Are you directly regulated?
- Are you in the supply chain to regulated entities?
- What sector-specific requirements apply?
- Compare current security to expected requirements
- Identify areas needing improvement
- Plan remediation timeline
- Board-level accountability
- Documented risk management
- Incident response procedures
- Sector regulators will issue specific guidance
- Implementation timeline will become clearer
- Secondary legislation will add detail
If probably not in scope
Still good practice:
- Requirements represent reasonable security standards
- Customers may impose similar requirements
- Market expectations are rising
Relationship to NIS2
NIS2 is the EU's updated directive. The UK Bill is the UK equivalent, but not identical.
UK-specific approach:
- Tailored to UK critical infrastructure
- UK regulators (not EU)
- Some differences in scope and requirements
How We're Preparing
We're preparing for the Bill both for ourselves (as an MSP) and our clients:
For DSC:
- Strengthening our security posture
- Documenting compliance
- Preparing for regulatory requirements
- Identifying who's likely in scope
- Gap assessments against expected requirements
- Remediation planning
- Compliance-Ready managed services
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*Disclaimer: The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is subject to Parliamentary process and may change before becoming law. This is general guidance based on published information at time of writing. Requirements, scope, and timelines may be amended. Monitor official government sources for definitive and current information.*
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about regulatory compliance.
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