Government sets out ambitions for security and resilience in the new Energy Sector Cyber Security Strategy
In partnership between the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), and the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the Energy Sector Cyber Security Strategy sets how the government will protect energy systems and the customers who depend on them. The strategy will look to secure the future of the energy system, while closely aligning with the ambition for delivering Clean Power 2030, net-zero and long-term energy security.
Call to Action
The four departments involved will act as ‘Quad Partners’, each playing an active role in improving the sector’s resilience and security. DESNZ will act as the lead department, Ofgem as the energy regulator responsible for monitoring compliance, NCSC as the technical support function and NESO providing whole-system coordination and analysis.
Strategic objectives and timelines
The strategy is structured around five pillars, each with associated milestones through to 2030.
Understanding threat, vulnerability and risk
By the end of 2026, the energy sector will have improved its understanding of cyber security risks to the most critical areas, with preliminary supply chain security principles in place. By 2027, government will have developed the capacity to engage with and assess the energy supply chain and by 2030, designated critical suppliers will be clearly defined with established maturity targets.
Prevention through enhanced resilience
The Quad Partners will work with industry to improve baseline resilience across the sector, including accelerating the adoption of cyber resilience plans and raising the standards expected of Operators of Essential Services (OES). By 2027, government will assess the NIS regulatory threshold and promote security by design in new infrastructure. Full resilience uplift across the Distributed Generation and Energy (DGE) system is targeted by 2030.
Preparedness, response and recovery
The Quad Partners will drive improved threat detection capabilities through advanced monitoring, comprehensive security testing and cross-cutting incident response exercises. Government will work with industry to test collective response capabilities this year, scope detection maturity and deliver a pilot scheme in 2027–28, with advanced capability testing established by 2030.
Monitoring, regulation and enforcement
NIS operators will be expected to achieve full compliance with existing regulations and ministerial targets, with the Quad Partners encouraging the adoption of deeper assurance mechanisms such as Cyber Assurance Schemes (CyAS) and Cyber Resilience Audits (CRA).
Partnership, culture and skills
The Quad Partners will foster a cyber security culture built on risk awareness, collaboration, capability and intelligence sharing. A CEO-level tabletop exercise will be delivered by the end of 2028 to ensure practical understanding of cyber risks at the most senior levels.
techUK view
This strategy comes at a critical time for the UK’s energy sector, which is navigating increased pressures, from supply disruptions to higher import costs. Where once a power outage caused inconvenience, today it can grow across interconnected systems, from electronic transactions to telecoms and water infrastructure, which could cause significant consequences for businesses and society. The increasingly digitalised world has only placed more importance on the security and resilience of the sector.
The strategy sets out a clear signal from government, that meeting regulations and frameworks will no longer meet their expectations. What is now expected is a whole system approach, from understanding supply chain risks to embedding a culture of collaboration across the sector.
techUK and its members looks forward to working with the Quad Partners to support the strategy's implementation and to strengthen the security and resilience of the UK's energy sector.
You can read the strategy in full here.
Cyber Resilience Programme activities
techUK brings together key players across the cyber security sector to promote leading-edge UK capabilities, build networks and grow the sector. techUK members have the opportunity to network, share ideas and collaborate, enabling the industry as a whole to address common challenges and opportunities together. Visit the programme page here.
Upcoming events
Latest news and insights
Learn more and get involved
Cyber Resilience updates
Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Cyber Resilience programme.
Meet the team
Jill Broom
Head of Cyber Resilience, techUK
Jill leads the techUK Cyber Resilience programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.
Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824
Read lessmore
Annie Collings
Senior Programme Manager, Cyber Resilience, techUK
Annie is the Programme Manager for Cyber Resilience at techUK. She first joined as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023.
In her role, Annie supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector. Annie also coordinates events, engages with policy makers and represents techUK at a number of cyber security events.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
Read lessmore
Olivia Staples
Junior Programme Manager - Cyber Resilience, techUK
Olivia Staples joined techUK in May 2025 as a Junior Programme Manager in the Cyber Resilience team.
She supports the programs mission to promote cyber resilience by engaging key commercial and government stakeholders to shape the cyber resilience policy towards increased security and industry growth. Olivia assists in member engagement, event facilitation and communications support.
Before joining techUK, Olivia gained experience in research, advocacy, and strategic communications across several international organisations. At the Munich Security Conference, she supported stakeholder engagement and contributed to strategic communications. She also worked closely with local and national government stakeholders in Spain and Italy, where she was involved in policy monitoring and advocacy for both public and private sector clients.
Olivia holds an MSc in Political Science (Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies) from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from University College London (UCL).
Outside of tech, Olivia enjoys volunteering with local charities and learning Norwegian.
- Email:
- [email protected]
Read lessmore
