BAE Systems extends support for National Highways’ cyber-related threats

National Highways has extended and broadened its partnership with BAE Systems by allocating up to £20m to develop a cyber-first approach to all major projects and programmes across England’s road network.

The contract builds on a relationship that has spanned two decades, with BAE Systems already providing cyber consultancy and assurance for National Highways’ digital services team.

The new three-year contract will see BAE provide support across several areas including cybersecurity and data protection, information security analysis and the provision of cyber threat intelligence services.

National Highways hopes that these services will help combat a diversifying threat landscape that has posed new challenges to digital progress across critical national infrastructure in recent years.

Leveraging its existing expertise across rail, road, air, sea and space, BAE Systems will also provide National Highways with analysis on how the cyber landscape is expected to evolve in the decades to come.

Work will also cover the development of autonomous vehicles, connected smart cities, drones, quantum computing and much more “to ensure the public continues to enjoy an innovative and safe road network in the coming years”.

Technology programmes director at National Highways Julia Thorne said, “Having access to quality capabilities enables us to deploy transport infrastructure projects at pace, while maintaining our cyber resilience in the face of considerable and rapidly evolving cyber threats.

“We look forward to taking the next step on our journey with BAE Systems as we drive our digital strategy in a way that continues to deliver security against the latest threats.”