NZ-UK joint statement on cyber security
Hon Murray McCully
Minister of
Foreign Affairs
15 January
2013 Media Statement
NZ-UK joint statement on cyber
security
Overview
1.
Cyberspace is one of the greatest national, global and
strategic challenges of our time. Cyber intrusions are an
increasing challenge for the security of systems and
networks of national importance. New Zealand and the United
Kingdom are already working closely together to confront the
growing threats we face to our cyber security, and it is
vital to our wider, shared economic, security and defence
interests that we do so. We are clear that our success in
this sphere will be fundamental to our joint realisation of
the transformational opportunities that Cyberspace
offers.
2. New Zealand and the United Kingdom share a
common position on the core principles of liberty,
transparency, freedom of expression and the rule of law in
cyberspace. Through our respective National Cyber Security
strategies we have each set out our responsibility to
protect our core Government systems, systems supporting our
critical national infrastructure, and the need to work with
industry and business as key partners in establishing a safe
digital environment for all.
Policy
Coordination
3. New Zealand and the United
Kingdom have a long history of cooperation on policy,
defence and security based on our shared values and
principles. Policy in cyberspace is complex and requires
coherence across government and collaboration with close
allies and the wider community. Responding to the most
challenging threats will require difficult policy choices.
4. We will work jointly, and with our allies, to
further develop a vision for the future security of
cyberspace and will work together to advance this through
positive international engagement.
International
Engagement
5. We do not underestimate the
challenges ahead in working with the international community
to achieve consensus on how to protect the cyberspace and,
within that, the internet which has been an unprecedented
engine for growth, social progress and innovation across the
globe and in all areas of human endeavour.
6. New Zealand and the United Kingdom will work closely together in relevant international fora to advance common understanding on the importance of an open, dynamic Internet underpinned by the body of applicable existing international law.
7. We recognise the gap between supply and demand for cyber security capacity building internationally. The United Kingdom, through the establishment of a new Global Cyber Security Capacity Building Centre (GCSCBC) is looking at how to make better use of the skills and resources internationally to address this issue.
8. The United
Kingdom and New Zealand will work closely together to ensure
these and other efforts can attain full global reach,
including how to best support the work of the ASEAN Regional
Forum partners and also the Pacific Island Forum’s
regional security committee.
Economic Benefit
and Business/Government Partnerships
9.
Security and resilience of our networks and promoting a safe
digital environment requires our governments to build and
maintain a close working relationship with the private
sector that manufactures, owns or operates the majority of
infrastructure on which the global internet relies. We will
look at opportunities for increased New Zealand – United
Kingdom exchange on our respective business outreach
programmes and through that improve links between our key
industry partners.
10. We also need to work closely with the business community generally, to build awareness and to improve companies’ ability to take responsibility for protecting their intellectual property. Creating a cyber-aware investment environment is essential if we are to create the conditions for business success, and help our companies respond to the challenge of globalisation.
11. We will collaborate on cyber-related research and development activities, both within government and with the private sector in both countries.
12. We will explore the
potential for synergies arising from our respective cyber
investment programmes. Where appropriate, we will work
jointly to deploy new capabilities and will share our
thinking on the development of new approaches to government
partnerships with the private sector.
Mutual
Defence
13. We will continue to share
situational awareness information and intelligence and
security data from a wide range of sources to maximise the
ability of both nations to detect and respond to foreign
cyber intrusions on networks of national importance.
14. We will work closely together, and with our key allies to coordinate responses to incidents affecting our government and private sector networks.
ENDS