National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) launched as it absorbs responsibilities of CPNI with a ‘broader security remit’

The UK’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has evolved to become the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA).

Part of the UK’s Security Service (MI5), the new NPSA has absorbed the responsibilities of CPNI with a ‘broader remit’, pointing to the threats faced today go beyond just critical national infrastructure.

The NPSA will have a ‘broader remit’ to reflect the new threats the UK faces

The news was announced as part of the Government’s Integrated Review, published on Monday 13 March 2023, by UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. The Review was launched in response to growing global volatility, where investment in defence will ramp up with an additional £5 billion provided to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over the next two years. Part of the Review was to also reveal the establishment of the NPSA within MI5.

It is designed to be the UK’s National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security, with expertise in counter terrorism and state threats. Its new mission statement reads: “Building resilience to national security threats”.

New areas covered by the NPSA include research and academia, emerging technologies, public places, and engineering and manufacturing. Advice on securing critical national infrastructure protection will continue to form a fundamental part of its work.

Working alongside partners, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (UK NACE), the NPSA will develop security guidance for wider industry, as well as directly for security professionals. Content and guidance will be created to help organisations better understand the range of threats they and the UK face, including terrorism, espionage and state actors.

Evolution to NPSA from Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure

CPNI, which was established in 2007, has become a trusted source of guidance for the industry over the years. While quite specific to national infrastructure protection, the Centre produced various advisory notes and digital learning modules – just last year it published a series of insider threat modules, for instance.

The new National Protective Security Authority website appears to have transported many of these guides over to its new home – npsa.gov.uk. Advice will be delivered primarily through campaigns, as well as via online self-service guidance and in-person industry engagement, says the NPSA’s ‘About Us’ page.

Part of MI5, advice is informed by the latest intelligence, alongside active partnerships with security specialists – such as the Security Institute – government departments and advice delivery partners, including the police.

The NPSA says it supports Chartered Security Professionals (CSyP) and the Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES) members and principals through:

• An introduction on the role of NPSA and advice delivery models
• Access to NPSA tools, guidance and best practice
• Opportunities to attend NPSA professional development events
• Where appropriate, the opportunity to attend NPSA training courses

Find out more about the National Protective Security Authority.

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