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Cybersecurity and Data Processing: Standards

Asked by Stuart AndersonConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 September 2026UIN 21519

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 47 of his department's Strategic Defence Review, published 2 June 2025, whether the Chief Information Officer has adequate authority to establish and supervise common technical standards, including those related to cyber security and data management.

Answered by Ministry of Defence

The Strategic Defence Review set out a strengthened role for the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in providing coherence and leadership across Defence's digital, data and technology landscape. The CIO is responsible for establishing Defence-wide digital and data policies, standards and governance arrangements, including those relating to cyber resilience, interoperability and data management.

The Ministry of Defence continues to strengthen these arrangements as part of the Strategic Defence Review implementation activity, to ensure that common standards are applied consistently across Defence.

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