Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance (OCSIA)

The Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance (OCSIA) is part of the UK Cabinet Office, which sits at the centre of government. It is based in Cheltenham.

The Office of Cyber Security was formed in 2009 and became the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance (OCSIA) in 2010. The OCSIA coordinates cybersecurity programmes run by the UK government, including allocation of the National Cyber Security Programme funding. It has four main priorities: improving national cybersecurity, improving cyberdefence of critical infrastructure, combating cybercrime and enhancing education and skills.

The OCSIA and the Cyber Security Operations Centre, which was also created in 2009, together work with government departments and agencies such as the Home Office, Ministry of Defence, GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), CESG (the Communications-Electronics Security Group), CPNI (Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure) and BIS (the UK government department for Business Innovation and Skills) to manage the National Cyber Security Programme for UK government.

The National Cyber Security Programme is expected to cost £650 million over four years. This is currently allocated as 65% on capabilities, 20% on critical cyber-infrastructure, 9% on cybercrime specifics, 1% on education and 5% on reserves. The OCSIA also works with the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board to ensure a coordinated approach to cybersecurity research and development. As of this writing, the lead government minister for cybersecurity is the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Cyber Security, Francis Maude MP. James Quinault is director of the OCSIA.