Simulation of Critical National Infrastructure Penetration
The UK is becoming increasingly reliant on complex, interconnected infrastructure systems; this also increases vulnerability to attacks, especially cyber-related attacks. To address gaps in understanding cybersecurity threats and in developing defences for Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) systems, The Alan Turing Institute aims to enhance both research capabilities and real-world resilience. While energy (power grids), water systems, and transportation are primary sectors of interest, applicants are encouraged to explore other CNI sectors as well. All proposed scenarios must be grounded in reality, representing threats observed in actual CNI environments or systems.
Opportunity
Challenge opens
18/02/2025
Challenge closes
19/05/2025
Benefit
The successful applicant will have access to a development budget of up to £70,000. Access to Turing’s research network, potential for further funding, and collaboration opportunities with industry stakeholders.
Context
The UK is the third most targeted country in the world for cyber-attacks, after the US and Ukraine. In recent years, the UK has seen the use of offensive cyber capabilities by state and non-state actors proliferate, exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The UK Government’s National Cyber Strategy 2022 and the Government Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2030 recognised cyber threats to UK Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) - infrastructure whose disruption would have significant national impact - as an area of particular concern.
In order to counter these threats, the Alan Turing Institute has been tasked to explore attack simulations across elements of the UK's Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), including Energy (power grids), water systems, and transportation, which are primary sectors of interest but not exclusively. The applicants may consider other CNI sectors, but all the scenarios must be grounded in reality in that they must represent a threat observed in the real world or production of CNI-relevant systems.
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