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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1999; 25 years ago (1999) (as the NISCC and NSAC) |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive | |
| Parent agency | Security Service (MI5) |
| Website | https://www.npsa.gov.uk/ |
The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is the national technical authority in the United Kingdom for physical and personnel protective security, maintaining expertise in counter terrorism as well as state threats.
Description
The National Protective Security Authority is the protective security arm of MI5, the counter-intelligence and security agency in the United Kingdom. It is a distinct entity, but benefits from access to MI5’s expertise and understanding of security threats.
NPSA helps organisations within the United Kingdom understand the range of security threats they face, for example from terrorism, espionage, and state actors, and importantly what they can do to minimise their risk through how they operate day to day. NPSA provide and develop content and guidance that is more accessible to those with no or limited security background, alongside advice for security professionals and technical experts.
NPSA work with key partners including the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the police.
History
National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre and National Security Advice Centre
The National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) was an inter-departmental centre of the UK government. Set up in 1999, the role of NISCC (pronounced "nicey") was to minimise the risk to critical national infrastructure (CNI) from electronic attack. NISCC provided advice and information on computer network defence and other information assurance issues to companies operating critical national infrastructure.
The National Security Advice Centre (NSAC) was a unit within MI5 that provided security advice to other parts of the UK government.
Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure
The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) was formed on 1 February 2007 from the merger of predecessor bodies NISCC and NSAC. CPNI provided integrated (combining information, personnel, and physical) security advice to the businesses and organisations which make up the critical national infrastructure. Through the delivery of this advice, they protect the UK national security by helping to reduce the vulnerability of the national infrastructure to terrorism and other threats.
In 2016 the cybersecurity-related aspects of the CPNI's role were taken over by the National Cyber Security Centre, itself a child agency of GCHQ.
National Protective Security Authority
On Monday 13 March 2023, CPNI evolved into the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), as part of Integrated Review Refresh. It absorbed the responsibilities of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and took on a broader remit beyond critical national infrastructure.
See also
- British cyber security community
- British intelligence agencies
- Civil Contingencies Secretariat
- U.S. critical infrastructure protection
References
- "What we do". MI5. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ "About NPSA". www.npsa.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- "Past Events: Aligning and Sustaining IT Infrastructure for Business Benefit". British Computer Society. 9 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- "Launch of The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI)". Security Service. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- Margaret Rouse (February 2008). "Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI)". SearchSecurity.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- HM Government (1 November 2016). "National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021" (PDF). gov.uk. p. 29. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- "National Protective Security Authority begins work". mi5.gov.uk. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- National Protective Security Authority. "Think Before You Link". play.google.com - Apps on Google Play. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- Moore, James (13 March 2023). "National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) launched as it absorbs responsibilities of CPNI with a 'broader security remit'". IFSEC Global. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- Muncaster, Phil (14 March 2023). "MI5 Launches New Agency to Tackle State-Backed Attacks". Infosecurity Magazine. Retrieved 30 March 2023.