NCSC For Startups
We're inviting the UK’s technology innovators to develop solutions to our most pressing security challenges with Plexal, the NCSC and our partners. Apply now.
NCSC For Startups is helping innovators develop products and technology with the government to solve challenges that are mission-critical to society and our economy.
Plexal is delivering the programme with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and we work with startups to help them develop their solutions, adapt their current technology to a new cyber challenge and pilot solutions.
They also benefit from support with investment, marketing, connections to private sector opportunities and product development.
Startups can take part in a three-month intensive programme or a 12-month programme, which will involve spending time in Cheltenham – home to the NCSC and GCHQ.
Learn more about our challenges on the NCSC’s website and get in touch with our innovation team on ncscforstartups@plexal.com if you’ve got any questions.
NEW CHALLENGES
Our latest challenges are:
Operational technology
How can we protect the integrity of this operational technology and make sure cyber vulnerabilities don’t cause any production delays or safety issues?
Protecting SMEs and citizens
Cyber security should be for everyone. We’re looking for solutions that can empower busy SMEs and citizens to defend themselves from digital threats.
Incident response for SMEs and citizens
When a cyber attack happens, how quickly can people and organisations recover? We’re looking for startups that can build resilience.
Better learning
How can we approach cyber training in a more innovative way so that people put what they learn into practice and change their behaviour online?
RANSOMWARE CHALLENGE: APPLY NOW
Ransomware is the biggest cybersecurity challenge facing the UK today. Be part of the solution. We're working with startups that can defend SMEs from ransomware, help firms use backups to minimise the impact of an attack and reduce the risks involved with people using Remote Desktop Protocol from home.
Secure Remote Desktop Protocol
People working from home and using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) are vulnerable to ransomware attacks.
To address this, we’re looking for startups that:
– add two-factor authentication to RDP
– perform rapid detection of unsecure RDP configurations
– detect and block brute force attacks on RDP
– prevent the of use of weak passwords for RDP login
– provide affordable and secure alternatives to existing RDP solutions
Effective backups
Effective backups are one of the best ways of reducing the impact of a ransomware attack.
To encourage organisations to implement an effective backup process, we’re looking for startups that:
– provide confidence that any backups are valid, tested, segregated and created regularly
– make sure that any backup that could be restored doesn’t contain malware or other vulnerabilities
– increase the speed of recovery from backups so they are faster than the ransomware payment window
– provide a backup restore and recovery solution that costs less than ransomware payments
Protecting SMEs from ransomware
SMEs don’t have enough choice when choosing ransomware protection at an affordable price. We’re looking for startups that can:
– provide enterprise solutions at an acceptable price for SMEs
– provide enterprise solutions that are accessible and usable by small security and/or IT teams
– provide a low-cost threat monitoring solution such as a Security Operations Centre in a box
– make sure companies have reasonable and clear minimum standards of cyber hygiene
– help organisations with low cyber security knowledge to understand what controls they need to put in place
Meet NCSC For Startups alumnus Rebellion Defence
Rebellion Defence is a British-American unicorn company that builds AI products for the defence and security needs of the UK, the US and their allies.
While taking part in NCSC For Startups, the company secured a healthy $150m in funding, which brought its valuation to $1bn. It also used the programme to hone its product-market fit by working closely with the NCSC’s technical architects.
MEET OUR STARTUPS
Learn more about the challenges they’re solving and what they want to achieve with NCSC For Startups…
WHY APPLY
Build solutions with the NCSC and Plexal
You’ll get advice and expert-delivered workshops to help you refine, test and prove your solution.
Business support
A community of mentors and business leaders are on hand to support you. From marketing to commercialisation strategy, you’ll have 1:1 support throughout.
Pilot your technology
Chosen startups will work on pilots with our industry and government partners.
Funding
Each startup can apply for funding to work on specific projects.
Community and events
Startups will be connected to a UK-wide ecosystem of startups, investors, security experts, business leaders and policymakers.
Keep your IP
The NCSC, Plexal and our partners won’t take any equity or IP from startups. It’s yours to keep.
PROVE. PIVOT. PILOT.
NCSC For Startups will be split into three streams:
PROVE
Startups will receive support to develop their early-stage solutions or prove a new concept that can solve a challenge.
PIVOT
Startups will receive support to adapt an existing technology or product to solve a challenge or create an entirely new solution.
PILOT
Later-stage cybersecurity startups will receive support to pilot solutions in a real-world setting and iterate the solution together with the NCSC and Plexal.
OUR CRITERIA
NCSC for Startups is open to startups at all stages, from pre Series A and beyond.
And you don’t have to call yourself a cybersecurity company to get involved.
We’re inviting any startup with technology-led solutions that meet our challenge areas to apply.
We’ll work with you to adapt it to a new challenge related to cybersecurity.
GET IN TOUCH
James Lamb and Robert Kearney from our cyber innovation team are here if you have any questions about NCSC For Startups or your application
THE PLEXAL TAKE
“NCSC For Startups is a unique opportunity for innovative startups to explore new concepts and collaborate with the UK government, Plexal and a broad spectrum of industry and academic partners to develop, iterate and pilot solutions that the UK needs the most.”
– Saj Huq, director of innovation, Plexal
GET INVOLVED WITH PLEXAL’S CYBER ECOSYSTEM
We’re building the UK’s most connected cybersecurity ecosystem.
Our cyber innovation team delivers LORCA: an innovation programme that’s supported 72 companies from five cohorts. Members have raised over £270m in investment, generated over £42m in revenue and won more than 1,200 contracts.
We also work directly with industry and the government to connect them with innovators and build solutions to their security challenges. Our community includes security leaders, cyber startups, policymakers, investors and enterprises across the UK and around the world.
Get involved by becoming a member, joining our investor network or bringing your challenge to us.
PROGRAMME PARTNERS
