Secure Connected Places

THE SECURE CONNECTED PLACES RESEARCH PROJECT

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is collaborating with Plexal on the second (beta) phase of a research project focused on the cyber security of connected places, also known as smart cities. Applications for local authorities to join the beta phase of testing are now closed.

BUILDING ON THE ALPHA PHASE

Between 2022 and 2023, DSIT worked with Plexal and six local authorities – of varying sizes, locations and technical maturities – to identify and respond to key connected places cyber security challenges to understand the support they required. This alpha phase of the project resulted in the alpha Secure Connected Places Playbook, a set of practical and accessible resources that support the cyber security of connected places. 

The alpha Secure Connected Places Playbook consists of four resources:  

• Connected places cyber security principles 101, which provides an introduction to connected places cyber security 
• Governance in a box, which provides advice on the processes and considerations needed to set up good cyber security governance across all connected places projects 
• Procurement & supply chain management , which provides advice on how to incorporate cyber security considerations into supply chain management lifecycle of their connected places
• Conducting a STRIDE-based threat analysis, with a structured framework to better understand the risks that they are taking on with a proposed connected places technology or project  

The resources were developed based on feedback from the participating local authorities on where they wanted more support to strengthen and maintain the cyber resilience of their connected places. 

To further refine and improve the alpha Playbook, DSIT is working with Plexal on a beta phase of the project. The beta phase will conduct more in-depth testing on the alpha Playbook with a larger cohort of local authorities. Working with this cohort, beta testing will ensure that the alpha Playbook resources  work for the practical needs of local authorities and identify whether any additional support is required.