The globally renowned Information Security Group (ISG) at Royal Holloway regularly engages with the UK Parliament in an expert capability, and earlier this month, Dr Andrew Dwyer, gave expert evidence to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS), during a session on ‘offensive cyber’.

The JCNSS is responsible for holding the UK government accountable for decisions on national security, including oversight of the UK National Security Council and the National Security Advisor.

Dr Dwyer, Lecturer in Information Security in the ISG, was invited to contribute expert insights on the UK’s evolving approach to offensive cyber operations. The session focused on the role and effectiveness of the National Cyber Force (NCF) – a joint military-intelligence force to conduct cyber operations, including those targeting cybercriminals in collaboration with the National Crime Agency (NCA). His testimony also addressed the UK’s approach to ‘responsible cyber power’ and the potential for international agreements on responsible cyber operations.

Dr Dwyer commented: “It was a privilege to give evidence to the JCNSS and contribute expertise on offensive cyber at a time of heightened geopolitical tension. I have been examining the role of offensive cyber for over five years as the lead of the academia-led Offensive Cyber Working Group and it is great to see academic expertise being drawn upon by Parliament.”

Dr Dwyer presented alongside Dr Tim Stevens of King’s College London, whose co-authored 2021 report The National Cyber Force That Britain Needs? was referenced in the committee’s examination of offensive cyber. The report remains the only substantive academic analysis of the NCF and offensive cyber operations in the UK.

Through research, education and training, the ISG is helping to shape policy, share expertise and encourage multi-disciplinary collaboration across information and cyber security challenges to support a range of organisations, government, industry, and wider communities. Read more about the ISG's research collaborations here

Watch the full session

Watch the full recording of the evidence session on 3 March, available on the UK Parliament website: Link Here.