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About NPSA

We are the UK government's National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security

Last Updated 08 March 2023

National Protective Security Authority

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is the UK government's National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security.

Find out what we do by watching the video below:

View Video Transcript

VO: The National Protective Security Authority.

*Footage of busy square with British landmark behind

*Footage of busy high street 

*Footage of two office workers examining data servers 

*Footage of busy office

*Footage of three colleagues looking at screen

As UK’s National Technical Authority for physical and protective personnel security,

*Large grid of office workers' daily life 

our mission is to make the UK less vulnerable and more resilient to national security threats.

*Footage of engineer working in front of the plane

*Footage of welder in the workshop

Through our research and training, we will develop content and guidance

*Footage of a colleague presenting, colleague conversation

that is more accessible to those with little or no security experience, alongside our advice for security professionals and technical experts.

*Footage of security guard, an office worker on phone 

Our work helps keep our citizens safe, protects the economy and our science

*Footage of office workers entering a building 

and technological advantage, as well as the infrastructure upon which daily life depends.

*Footage of scientist in lab 

*Sped up aerial footage of busy intersection of motorway 

*Grid of nine previous footage of various employees at their workplaces 

The National Protective Security Authority - Building resilience to National Security threats

Text saying 'The National Protective Security Authority - Building resilience to National Security threats'

Title card reading CPNI Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has evolved to become National Protective Security Authority to reach more people in more sectors than ever before.

VO: CPNI has evolved to become the National Protective Security Authority

Footage of busy square with British landmark behind

Footage of busy high street 

Footage of two office workers examining data servers 

Our mission is to make the UK less vulnerable and more resilient to national security threats.

Footage of busy office

Footage of three colleagues looking at screen

As UK’s National Technical Authority for physical and protective personnel security, 

Large grid of office workers' daily life 

we are expanding our reach to a wider, more diverse range of people and sectors.

Footage of engineer working in front of the plane

Footage of welder in the workshop

This will include science and technology, public places, research and academia, as well as our national infrastructure.

 Footage of scientist in lab, CCTV security man, professor 

Footage of workmen

Our ambition is to reach 10 times more customers by 2025 than we do today.

Footage of a construction worker, a teacher, two office colleagues

Through our research and training, we will develop content and guidance

Footage of a colleague presenting, colleague conversation

That is more accessible to those with little or no security experience, alongside our advice for security professionals and technical experts.

Footage of security guard, an office worker on phone 

Our work helps keep our citizens safe, protects the economy and our science

Footage of office workers entering a building 

and technological advantage, as well as the infrastructure upon which daily life depends.

Footage of scientist in lab 

Sped up aerial footage of busy intersection of motorway 

Evolve with us, because together we’re stronger.

Grid of nine previous footage of various employees at their workplaces 

Text saying Evolve with us because together we’re stronger NPSA National Protective Security Authority  - Building resilience to National Security threats

View video with subtitles

Who we are

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) has absorbed the responsibilities of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, but with a broader remit, reflecting the fact that the threats the UK faces today extend far beyond critical national infrastructure. NPSA is a part of the Security Service, MI5.

We are the UK’s National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security, maintaining our expertise in counter terrorism as well as state threats. 

Our mission is: 'Building resilience to national security threats'.

View Video Transcript

*Music begins*

*Video of skyscraper office buildings' exteriors*

*Video of office building glass exterior with workers*

*Video of three security professionals watching surveillance screens*

*Video of motorway*

*Video of busy tube escalator*

*Video of busy city skyline*

*Video of London skyline with train*

DG voice begins:

As the national security threats we face change so must our response.

*Screen changes to blank backdrop with text reading “Ken McCallum, Director General MI5”.

*Director General appears*

That’s why I’m pleased MI5 is launching the National Protective Security Authority.

*NPSA acronym zooms in, each letter moves out to reveal full text saying “National Protective Security Authority”*

*Zooms in to DG face*

Through this new body, which builds on our long history of protective security expertise

*”Protective”, “Security” and “Expertise” zooms on the screen and fades away*

we will offer clear advice and guidance to a much wider range

*Video of three factory workers*

of organisations and businesses,

*Video of man with tool*

helping them keep themselves

*Video of office workers through glass windows*

and the country safe.

The threat landscape is changing.

*Screen goes back to DG talking against backdrop*

State actors are seeking to undermine our democracy through covert influence.

We see industrial-scale theft

*Video of scientists in lab*

*Third of screen with construction workers* *Third of screen with scientist* *Third with

office workers*

of science and technology information

That is eroding our advantage and our national future.

*Back to video of DG*

*Video of CCTV*

Self-initiated terrorists are hard to detect

*Video of security cameras*

*Video of screens with CCTV footage*

And capable of deadly effect.

*Video of “police line do not cross”*

These shifting threats matter

*Back to video of DG*

not just to our critical infrastructure,

*Video of man in data storage facility*

But much more widely,

*Third of screen video with a professor, third of screen video with a scientist, third of

screen video with previous video of a man in a data storage facility*

Across our tech sector, our universities, our research base.

*Video of students walking*

Touching many who may need to think about

*Video of office team gathered around table*

National security threats and risks

*Back to video of DG*

for the first time.

*Video of previous NPSA campaign (two corporately dressed individuals behind a woman

sitting down, sinister man behind them)*

We know these topics can be complex

*Video of Think Before You Link guidance booklet*

So we will share clear, practical and relevant advice

*”Clear”, “Practical”, “Relevant”, “Advice” all appear on screen individually and fade away*

*Video of police van*

*Video of police car*

That is grounded in our in-depth understanding of the threats.

*Back to video of DG*

I'm looking forward to us,

*Grid of nine previous videos appears of various sectors/colleagues*

as MI5 and the new Authority, working closely with more organisations, businesses and industry to build a UK that is resilient in our changing world.

*Fade to the background of DG video, text reads “together we’re stronger”*

*NPSA logo animation appears with underneath reading “Building resilience to national

security threats*

*Music begins*

*Video of skyscraper office buildings' exteriors*

*Video of office building glass exterior with workers*

*Video of three security professionals watching surveillance screens*

*Video of motorway*

*Video of busy tube escalator*

*Video of busy city skyline*

*Video of London skyline with train*

DG voice begins:

As the national security threats we face change so must our response.

*Screen changes to blank backdrop with text reading “Ken McCallum, Director General MI5”.

*Director General appears*

That’s why I’m pleased MI5 is launching the National Protective Security Authority.

*NPSA acronym zooms in, each letter moves out to reveal full text saying “National Protective Security Authority”*

*Zooms in to DG face*

Through this new body, which builds on our long history of protective security expertise

*”Protective”, “Security” and “Expertise” zooms on the screen and fades away*

we will offer clear advice and guidance to a much wider range

*Video of three factory workers*

of organisations and businesses,

*Video of man with tool*

helping them keep themselves

*Video of office workers through glass windows*

and the country safe.

The threat landscape is changing.

*Screen goes back to DG talking against backdrop*

State actors are seeking to undermine our democracy through covert influence.

We see industrial-scale theft

*Video of scientists in lab*

*Third of screen with construction workers* *Third of screen with scientist* *Third with

office workers*

of science and technology information

That is eroding our advantage and our national future.

*Back to video of DG*

*Video of CCTV*

Self-initiated terrorists are hard to detect

*Video of security cameras*

*Video of screens with CCTV footage*

And capable of deadly effect.

*Video of “police line do not cross”*

These shifting threats matter

*Back to video of DG*

not just to our critical infrastructure,

*Video of man in data storage facility*

But much more widely,

*Third of screen video with a professor, third of screen video with a scientist, third of

screen video with previous video of a man in a data storage facility*

Across our tech sector, our universities, our research base.

*Video of students walking*

Touching many who may need to think about

*Video of office team gathered around table*

National security threats and risks

*Back to video of DG*

for the first time.

*Video of previous NPSA campaign (two corporately dressed individuals behind a woman

sitting down, sinister man behind them)*

We know these topics can be complex

*Video of Think Before You Link guidance booklet*

So we will share clear, practical and relevant advice

*”Clear”, “Practical”, “Relevant”, “Advice” all appear on screen individually and fade away*

*Video of police van*

*Video of police car*

That is grounded in our in-depth understanding of the threats.

*Back to video of DG*

I'm looking forward to us,

*Grid of nine previous videos appears of various sectors/colleagues*

as MI5 and the new Authority, working closely with more organisations, businesses and industry to build a UK that is resilient in our changing world.

*Fade to the background of DG video, text reads “together we’re stronger”*

*NPSA logo animation appears with underneath reading “Building resilience to national

security threats*

View video with subtitles

We do this, alongside our partners – the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (UK NACE) – by developing protective security guidance for government and industry, that is informed by intelligence and our unique understanding of the threat. 

Our work helps keep our citizens safe, protects the economy and our science and technological advantage, as well as the infrastructure upon which daily life depends. 

What we do

We help organisations understand the range of threats they and the UK 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. 

We recognise that the protective security needs, resources and understanding of our customer base vary significantly and we develop advice and guidance that is scalable to meet these diverse security requirements. This content and guidance is more accessible to those with no or limited security background, alongside our advice for security professionals and technical experts. 

Through our expanded campaigns, training, guidance, and advice offering, we help organisations of all sizes and sectors to recognise, identify and mitigate security risks by implementing proportionate and practical protective security measures. 

We embrace digital opportunities and technology that help us reach more organisations and sectors with our guidance, training and advice products.

How we do this

Our guidance, training, and advice is derived from our world-leading research and development programme, and by MI5’s expert understanding of the threat. We deliver our advice primarily through our campaigns and online self-service guidance and advice offering at www.npsa.gov.uk, alongside our in-person industry engagement. 

We work closely with key partners which includes Government departments, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the police.

NPSA is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). EDI is integral to our culture and working practices, as well as our protective security efforts. We also work closely with key partners to promote greater EDI in the wider security profession.

NPSA's commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

NPSA is committed to supporting EDI within our organisation and developing a workforce with a range of backgrounds, identities, education and experience. Promoting EDI isn’t just about doing the right thing, but goes to the heart of what we exist to do. The success of our cutting-edge protective security advice as a National Technical Authority depends on our ability to draw on the best people, with the best skills, and to engage with and understand our customers.

We also work closely with partners to promote greater EDI in the wider security profession. It is widely recognised that improving EDI is crucial for the success and sustainability of the profession. With greater EDI we can ensure that the profession both attracts and retains a diverse workforce, with fair treatment and opportunity for all. In doing so, we create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Our history

Since the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure was established in 2007, we have focussed primarily on counter terrorism (CT) threats to the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), developing world-leading products, guidance, and advice in its role as the National Technical Authority on Physical and Personnel protective security.

Since 2007, both the threats and the sectors where these threats manifest themselves have evolved. The attack types from terrorism have expanded and there has been an emergence of low sophisticated attacks from self-initiated terrorists.

Today the UK’s strategic advantage, through our science and technology, is as much under threat from theft by state actors, as our critical national infrastructure and publicly accessible locations are from terrorist attack. Our national security and economic security are increasingly intertwined through the state threats we face.

Like CPNI, NPSA will work alongside the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) to target harden the UK's economy, infrastructure, industries and crowded places.

Now the National Protective Security Authority, we continue to be UK’s National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security, and maintain an expertise in CT as well as state threats. 

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