As the world becomes more interconnected, the nature of national security is evolving, bringing new challenges and opportunities in cyberspace. It’s no longer just about physical borders—it’s about digital infrastructure, critical assets, and public-private partnerships, with businesses of all sizes impacted by these changes in strategic cybersecurity. In a recent episode of The Authority On… podcast, Grace Cassy, co-founder of CyLon Ventures and expert contributor to the UK’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review, joined Device Authority to unpack what this new landscape means for strategic cybersecurity.

Cyber risk management and security governance are now foundational elements in building effective strategic cybersecurity, ensuring organizations can identify, assess, and address threats at every level.

Her message was clear: Cyber resilience is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a matter of national importance.

🛡️ Strategic Cybersecurity: The Big Picture

In her conversation with Device Authority, Grace outlined how cybersecurity has become a strategic pillar of modern defence, with three key drivers:

1. Digital transformation of critical national infrastructure (CNI)– Water, energy, transport, and health systems are increasingly digitised—and increasingly targeted. Protecting these essential services requires alignment with security frameworks, industry standards, and regulations to ensure resilience and compliance.
2. The growing convergence of cyber and physical threats– From smart cities to military systems, a single vulnerability can cause both virtual and real-world disruption.
3. The role of startups in national security– Agile, innovative tech companies are crucial in filling capability gaps across the cyber defence spectrum, and play a vital role in supporting the resilience of essential services.

There is a critical need for effective management and clear responsibility in implementing strategic cybersecurity across all sectors. Leadership, management, and all stakeholders must take responsibility for developing, executing, and overseeing robust cybersecurity strategies.

🌐 Understanding the Threat Landscape

In today’s hyperconnected world, the threat landscape is constantly shifting, with new cyber threats and cyber attacks emerging at an unprecedented pace. For organisations aiming to protect their critical assets and sensitive information, understanding this evolving environment is essential. Regular risk assessments and vulnerability scanning are key components of a strong security posture, enabling organisations to identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Threat intelligence is another vital resource, providing actionable insights into emerging threats and helping organisations adapt their cybersecurity strategy to stay ahead of attackers. By leveraging up-to-date threat intelligence, organisations can strengthen their security measures, enhance organisational resilience, and improve their incident response capabilities to respond to incidents swiftly and effectively.

The threat landscape encompasses a wide range of risks, from unauthorised access to large-scale cyber attacks targeting critical systems. To develop an effective cybersecurity strategy, organisations must remain vigilant, continuously monitor for new threats, and implement security practices that protect their most valuable assets. Staying informed and proactive is essential for maintaining security and resilience in the face of ever-changing cyber risks.

🧩 Identifying Key Components of Cybersecurity

Identifying the key components of cybersecurity is an essential step for organisations seeking to protect themselves against the growing range of cyber threats and cyber attacks. A robust cybersecurity strategy should be built on several foundational elements that work together to strengthen the organisation’s security posture and safeguard critical assets.

At the core, threat intelligence provides timely insights into emerging threats, enabling organisations to anticipate and counteract potential attacks. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are vital security practices that help identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. These proactive measures ensure that security measures remain effective and up to date.

Equally important are strong communication protocols and access controls, which help prevent unauthorised access to sensitive systems and data. Incident response plans are another key component, ensuring that organisations can respond quickly and effectively to security incidents, minimising potential damage.

To remain resilient in the face of an ever-evolving threat landscape, organisations must commit to the regular review and enhancement of their security measures. By understanding the critical need for these components and integrating them into a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, organisations can enhance their ability to protect critical assets and respond to incidents with confidence.

🔍 Conducting Risk Assessments in a Hyperconnected Era

In today’s hyperconnected era, conducting thorough risk assessments is essential for organisations to maintain a strong security posture and protect their critical assets from cyber threats. Risk assessments are a cornerstone of any effective cybersecurity strategy, enabling organisations to identify, evaluate, and address the risks posed by cyber attacks and emerging threats.

The process begins with identifying the organisation’s most critical assets and systems, followed by evaluating the likelihood and potential impact of various cyber threats. This assessment allows organisations to prioritise their security efforts and allocate resources where they are needed most, ensuring that the most significant vulnerabilities are addressed first.

Regular risk assessments are crucial for detecting new vulnerabilities and systems that may have been exploited, allowing organisations to take proactive steps to prevent future attacks. By staying ahead of the evolving threat landscape, organisations can ensure their cybersecurity measures are robust enough to protect sensitive information and maintain organisational resilience.

Ultimately, effective risk assessments empower organisations to make informed decisions, strengthen their defences, and respond swiftly to incidents—ensuring that their assets, data, and reputation remain secure in an increasingly complex digital world.

🇬🇧 The UK’s Evolving Security Strategy

As part of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the UK is taking a comprehensive approach to cyber security as part of its national strategy by:

• Prioritising public-private collaboration in cybersecurity
• Investing in domestic cyber innovation and early-stage technology
• Requiring higher standards for device identity and trust in CNI and defence supply chains

Effectively managing risks and compliance, and meeting compliance requirements, is essential in this evolving cyber security landscape to ensure resilience and protection against emerging threats.

Device Authority is uniquely positioned to support these efforts with machine identity automation and Zero Trust enforcement for critical connected systems, including secure software management as a key component of device identity and trust.

🔐 Cybersecurity as a Trust Enabler

Grace Cassy also touched on the importance of trust in public systems and infrastructure. In a digital-first world, trust relies on:

• Proven device authenticity
• Secure data exchange
• Transparent security processes

Robust security controls are also critical for maintaining trust in public systems.

Adhering to strong security principles is essential for building and maintaining trust in these environments.

Platforms like KeyScaler 2025 play a vital role by delivering:

• 🔑 Automated identity issuance and verification
• 🧠 AI-driven threat analytics for CNI environments, enabling the platform to detect threats in real time
• 🔁 Continuous compliance with national and global standards (e.g. NIST, EO 14028, UK NCSC guidance), with regular evaluation of the effectiveness of security measures

🗺️ Creating a Strategic Cybersecurity Plan

Creating a strategic cybersecurity plan is fundamental for organisations aiming to achieve a high level of protection against cyber threats and cyber attacks. A well-crafted strategic plan outlines the organisation’s cybersecurity goals, objectives, and the key components necessary to defend critical assets and maintain organisational resilience.

The plan should detail essential security measures, incorporate up-to-date threat intelligence, and establish clear incident response procedures. Defining roles and responsibilities for employees and leadership ensures accountability and a unified approach to maintaining security across the organisation.

Developing a comprehensive cybersecurity plan also involves breaking down the strategy into manageable components, allocating resources effectively, and leveraging the right tools and expertise to detect and respond to threats. Regular review and updates are vital, as the threat landscape and emerging threats continue to evolve.

By embracing industry best practices and principles, organisations can ensure their strategic plan remains effective and relevant. Strong leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential for maintaining resilience, protecting critical assets, and achieving long-term cybersecurity goals. With a clear, actionable plan in place, organisations are better equipped to manage risks, respond to incidents, and strengthen their overall security posture.

🚧 Overcoming Challenges and Obstacles

Developing and implementing a robust cybersecurity strategy comes with its own set of challenges and obstacles. The likelihood of cyber attacks is ever-present, and the impact on an organisation’s systems, data, and reputation can be significant. To address these challenges, organisations must create a strategic plan that outlines their approach to cybersecurity, including regular review and updates of security practices to adapt to the evolving threat landscape.

Key components of this plan should include vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and clear communication protocols to ensure all employees understand their role in protecting critical assets. With the scale of threats increasing and resources often limited, it’s crucial for organisations to prioritise their efforts, focusing on the most critical vulnerabilities and risks.

Embracing a proactive approach—leveraging the latest tools, technologies, and expertise—can help organisations strengthen their security posture and achieve greater organisational resilience. Effective leadership and accountability, supported by a clear governance structure, are essential, ensuring that cybersecurity remains a top priority and that every employee is engaged in the effort to protect the organisation. By regularly reviewing strategies and embracing best practices, organisations can overcome obstacles and build a resilient defence against the ever-expanding threat landscape.

🧠 Key Takeaways from the Podcast

1. Cybersecurity must be embedded at the design stage of national systems
2. Startups have a critical role in enabling next-generation cyber defence and helping organizations become leaders among their peers
3. Machine identity is central to establishing trust across ecosystems
4. Strategic investment in AI and automation is essential to scale defence capabilities without breaking the bank

🎧 Listen and Learn

Catch the full episode of The Authority On… to hear Grace’s full perspective, including how organizations can gain valuable insights to strengthen their cybersecurity posture:

• Real-world examples of cyber-physical risks, helping organizations recognise and respond to emerging threats
• The value of aligning with national frameworks
• How Device Authority supports the secure digitisation of defence and CNI

👉 Listen to the podcast episode👉 Explore how Device Authority supports CNI protection

Conclusion

As cyber threats grow more complex and geopolitical stakes rise, strategic cybersecurity is becoming central to national stability. From defence innovation to digital trust frameworks, Device Authority is helping organisations protect what matters most—today and into the future.