Cyber Warfare Cyber Security Briefing Event

The meeting focused on cyber warfare and cybersecurity in defence, featuring presentations from Ultra Electronics, SecureCloud+, and Egregious. Simon from Ultra Electronics discussed the development of high-grade crypto devices for secure military communications, highlighting the challenges of maintaining security and the need for exportability. James from SecureCloud+ emphasized the importance of secure IT systems and data-driven decision-making in defence. Rupert from Egregious warned about the rise of autonomous espionage and the need for proactive measures to combat misinformation and social engineering. The discussion also touched on regulatory challenges and the importance of sovereignty in cybersecurity.

Meeting Minutes – APPG for Defence Technology Cyber Warfare, Cyber Security meeting

Monday 12^th May 2025

Room N, Portcullis House

Attendees

Fred Thomas MP,

David Reed MP,

Lord Sandhurst,

Baroness Neville-Jones,

Rupert Small (Egregious)

Simon Croall (Ultra Group)

James Fickling (SecureCloud+)

James Clark (APPG Secretariat)

Andrew Munday, (Babcock)

Hannah Hilditch (CT Group)

Jeremy Wimble (Tech UK)

John Puddy (Ultra Group)

Leo Karaalp (Leonardo)

Peter Williamson (SecureCloud+)

Saj Mohidin (meta1st)

James Marshall

Chloe Sanderson (Secretariat)

Hannah Furse (Office of Fred Thomas MP)

Christine Wallace (Office of Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP)

Hamish Mundell (RUSI)

Hugo Rosemont (AWS)

Andro Mathewson (Office of Baroness Fraser)

Introduction and Overview of the Meeting

• James Clark welcomed attendees to the fourth meeting of the Achieve for Defence Technology, focusing on cyber warfare and cyber security in defence.
• Fred Thomas MP introduced the momentum building around the conversations and the increasing pickup of the items discussed in policymakers' circles.
• Simon from Ultra Electronics was introduced as the first presenter, with briefings from James from SecureCloud+ and Rupert from Egregious to follow.
• Fred emphasized the importance of the sessions in learning from presenters and attendees' questions and points.

Simon Croall's Presentation on Ultra Electronics

• Simon Croall introduced himself and Ultra Electronics, a company based in Maidenhead, UK.
• Ultra designs secure communications devices for those under sophisticated threat, focusing on nation-state actors trying to manipulate or intercept communications.
• Simon explained the development and security measures of high-grade crypto devices, including the challenges of maintaining security against various attacks.
• The devices are considered sovereign assets, with the UK and the US being world leaders in this area, supporting military operations including the carrier strike group.

Challenges and Strategies in Secure Communications

• Simon discussed the challenges of maintaining the capability and skill set for developing secure communications devices over a long period.
• The UK faces issues in exporting these devices due to their high development costs and the need for sovereign requirements.
• Simon highlighted the importance of making devices exportable while maintaining their sovereign elements.
• He suggested strategies to improve the development process, including taking risks across stakeholders, keeping people interested in cyber security, and considering export from the outset.

James Fickling's Presentation on SecureCloud+

• James introduced himself and SecureCloud+, a managed service provider for defence, focusing on IT platforms for secure defence collaboration.
• James shared his background as a weapon engineer officer and his transition into cyber security roles in the defence sector.
• SecureCloud+ provides secure IT systems, data-driven decision-making, and secure service management, with a focus on high-grade encryption and secure by design principles.
• James emphasized the importance of secure IT systems for defence procurement and the need for agility in addressing complex defence problems.

Defencive Cyber Operations and Strategies

• James discussed the doctrinal view of cyberspace and the importance of securing everything while defending selectively.
• He highlighted the role of defensive cyber operations in supporting military operations and the importance of freedom of action.
• James emphasized the need for a robust cyber defensive baseline and the challenges of maintaining security in the quantum era.
• He suggested that the UK should consider exporting secure communications devices to maintain its world leadership in this area.

Rupert's Presentation on Egregious

• Rupert introduced Egregious, a company that tracks misinformation, foreign influence operations, and social engineering.
• Egregious focuses on scalable, autonomous espionage, using bots to deceive and persuade online, leveraging AI and machine learning.
• Rupert provided examples of how bots can manipulate public opinion and the challenges of detecting and countering these threats.
• He emphasized the need for investment in technology and data science to combat these threats and the importance of embedding these capabilities into infrastructure and governance.

Q&A and Discussion on Cyber Security and Defence

• James Clark opened the floor for questions, with attendees asking about the challenges of exporting secure communications devices and the importance of sovereignty.
• Simon and James discussed the regulatory challenges and the need for clearer guidelines and frameworks to support SMEs in the defence industry.
• Rupert emphasized the importance of detecting and responding to cyber threats and the need for proactive measures to prevent attacks.
• The discussion highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to cyber security, involving both government and industry efforts.

Closing Remarks and Future Steps

• James Clark thanked the speakers and attendees for their participation and contributions to the discussion.
• He encouraged attendees to provide feedback and contribute to the policy paper being developed based on the meeting's discussions.
• The meeting concluded with a reminder to stay engaged and continue the conversation on cyber security and defence.