Who we work with
Article Summary
CPNI works with a variety of key partners including: government departments with responsibility for infrastructure sectors; businesses and organisations that own or operate national infrastructure; and other security specialists and advice delivery partners including the Police. Effective tripartite relationships between security specialists, government departments and businesses within the national infrastructure are vital to achieving our overarching goal of vulnerability reduction.
Government departments
Government departments have lead responsibility for ensuring appropriate steps are taken within their sectors to improve protective security. They also lead on the identification of critical infrastructure within their sectors in consultation with CPNI and sector organisations.
The following departments have lead responsibility for the sectors indicated below:
- Communications - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
- Emergency services
- Ambulance - Department of Health (DH)
- Fire - Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport (DfT)
- Police - Home Office
- Energy - Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
- Finance - HM Treasury (HMT)
- Food - Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Food Standards Agency (FSA)
- Government - Cabinet Office (CO)
- Health - Department of Health (DH)
- Transport - Department for Transport (DfT)
- Water - Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)
In response to the cyber threat, the government set up the Office of Cyber Security & Information Assurance (OCSIA) and the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) in 2010. CPNI works closely with OCSIA, CSOC and CESG (National Technical Authority for Information Assurance) in driving forward the cyber security programme for UK government and to give the UK the balance of advantage in cyberspace.
We also liaise with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in Cabinet Office, which works to enhance the UK's ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
CNI businesses and organisations
We have close relationships with organisations and businesses that own or operate the national infrastructure. Relationships have been built up over many years between our experienced security advisers and security managers in the sectors. Our advice is given in a variety of different ways - through face-to-face advice by teams of sector based and specialist advisers, training, online advice and written advisory products.
CPNI facilitates information exchanges to allow information to be shared amongst trusted contacts - this is key to successful security planning in many sectors. Where appropriate we also share information about threats, vulnerabilities and effective mitigation measures, so that businesses and organisations in the national infrastructure can protect their assets better.
Consultancies
CPNI has established a unique partnership programme (the Risk Management Delivery Group) aimed at fostering stronger, more dynamic and mutually beneficial relationships with leading UK consultancy partners.
Police
CPNI works closely with the police. We have a particularly strong partnership with the police National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), co-located with CPNI, and the nationwide network of specialist police Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) that they co-ordinate. NaCTSO and the CTSAs support CPNI in the delivery of advice to critical sites within the national infrastructure.
International partners
We have a close relationship with many international partners, including overseas Governments, agencies and businesses.
International co-operation together with collaborative research projects ensure that the global threat of terrorism is tackled with an internationally informed response.
We also contribute to Overseas Security Information For Business, a joint Foreign & Commonwealth Office/UK Trade & Investment/Business endeavour, which provides UK business with information relating to the security related risks which companies face when operating overseas.
Partners on professional standards
CPNI works with a range of external partners on the development of professional standards. One of these is the Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES). It has been developed to promote excellence in the field of security engineering and provide a ready means for individuals to demonstrate competence in this discipline through independent assessment.
The Register is sponsored by CPNI; it is administered and operated by the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Security engineering is "the protection of the health of the population, the built environment and infrastructure against terrorism, sabotage and crime by the application of engineering and scientific principles."
More details about the Register and how to join are available on the RSES website.