VOICES | HYWEL DAVIES A secure new year? Cyber security is easily seen as an imposition and a dark art, but it is an essential discipline in an increasingly virtual world, keeping us safe from a wide range of threats and malicious actors. Hywel Davies explores the topic and what is being done to protect the UK online T DR HYWEL DAVIES HonFCIBSE is chief technical ofcer at CIBSE. He chaired the Building Regulations Advisory Committee golden thread working group he National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is the UKs technical authority for cyber security and is a part of Government Communications HQ (GCHQ). Opened by HM Queen Elizabeth in 2016, its goal is to make the UK the safest place to live and work online. NCSCs seventh annual report was published in November 2023, highlighting key milestones in the year ending August 2023. The report also looks ahead to future challenges. In 2023, we witnessed growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and the rise of ChatGPT (other AI tools are available). Such systems have the potential to bring many benefits to society, but there are also some broad, dystopian predictions of how AI will affect almost every aspect of our future lives. The field of AI is much broader than large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, presenting a range of cyber threats. The NCSC has focused on understanding the cyber-security challenges and opportunities of AI for many years. While much debate around AI focuses on broader existential risks, its rapid development also brings many immediate security concerns. As this technology develops further, ongoing cyber research aims to understand its vulnerabilities and keep track of how our adversaries are seeking to exploit AI irresponsibly and unethically, often for malign ends. The NCSC is working with industry, academics and international partners to provide clear guidance to help us all understand and manage these risks. While the risks of AI are significant, it is basically a type of software and while it creates new challenges, we have learned many lessons from previous generations of cyber-security practice that can be used to secure this rapidly developing technology. AI also presents the cyber-security sector with significant opportunities to develop new and innovative defences against hostile actors. On 1 and 2 November 2023, the UK hosted the first AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, with governments, leading technology organisations, academia and civil society coming together to consider rapid national and international action in response to AI development. The resulting Bletchley Declaration acknowledges the AI has the potential to bring many benefits to society, but there are also some dystopian predictions of how it will affect every aspect of our future lives www.jung-pumps.co.uk 0118 9821 555 Every time you specify a DrainMajor Tank, we will donate 5 to the Rainforest Trust. Tank Construction Polyethylene DrainMajor Wastewater Pumping System Email davidj@pumptechnology.co.uk so that we can donate on your behalf Specify pumping systems with recyclable tanks to support the environment! 16 January 2024 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Jan 24 pp16-17 Hywel / SCA column.indd 16 21/12/2023 17:50