NPSA works with partners to identify risks and vulnerabilities to the UK’s national infrastructure, and to offer advice to reduce them. Our partners include:
- The rest of the UK’s intelligence community, government departments and devolved government with responsibility for infrastructure sectors.
- Businesses and organisations within the critical national infrastructure.
- Security specialists and advice delivery partners, including the police.
UK intelligence agencies
We are part of MI5, the Security Service, which exists to protect the UK against national security threats. Our advice is informed by the latest intelligence and information about the threats posed to the UK by terrorists and state actors. We also work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) a part of GCHQ, which offers advice to businesses and the public to keep them safe online.
UK government departments
GOV.UK is a United Kingdom public sector information website. It provides a single point of access to services provided by His Majesty’s Government and draws together information which was previously published across hundreds of government departments, agencies and other public bodies.
NPSA is one of the UK's three NTAs that work closely together to provide holistic protective security advice. The others are:
- The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The NCSC is the UK's NTA for cyber security.
- The UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (UKNACE). UKNACE is the UK's NTA for technical security.
The Home Office is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. It deals with counter-terrorist policy and legislation. NPSA works under the statutory authority of the Home Secretary.
One of the Cabinet Office's key objectives is to co-ordinate security, intelligence and civil protection matters in the UK against disruptive threats. The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), which advises on priorities for intelligence collection and assesses performance against them, is based at the Cabinet Office.
Working with the police
NPSA works with the police, in particular the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), which is a police hosted unit within the National Counter Terrorism Police Headquarters (CTPHQ).
NaCTSO support the Protect and Prepare strands of the government’s counter terrorism strategy (CONTEST) and are responsible for providing awareness, advice and guidance in the following areas:
- Publicly Accessible Locations (PALs) throughout the UK
- Hazardous sites and dangerous substances
- Critical National infrastructure
- Personal Security
NaCTSO work in partnership with government and industry and utilise a network of approximately 190 Counter Terrorism Security Advisors, who work within local police forces.
NaCTSO also work with Secured by Design, which is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit against a variety of crimes.
Industry and Academia
Partnership with academia and the private sector is at the heart of NPSA work. Experts from a wide variety of academic institutions and private companies work with us to develop our advice & guidance.
- NPSA security guidance can help those working in and around (public places and) publicly accessible locations
- NPSA works with universities to develop guidance on how to undertake research safely and securely
- NPSA develops security guidance to help those working in manufacturing and engineering to protect your science and technological advantage
- NPSA produces security guidance to help the emerging technology sector operate securely and safely
Click on each of the below videos to find out about the experiences of existing customers from the following sectors:
*Title card reading ‘CPNI Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has evolved to become National Protective Security Authority to reach more people in more sectors than ever before’*
*Text reading ‘Working with us. Peter. Head of Research Office, University of Cambridge.'*
*Footage of Peter talking to the camera*
CPNI works with UK Universities to develop understanding, guidance,
*Footage of a lecturer, two scientists in a lab, and a man in a wheelchair giving a speech*
and training materials for academic staff in order that they can better understand how they can undertake their research safely
*Footage of a scientist using a microscope*
*Footage of colleagues working together in an office environment and scientists in a lab*
and securely when working with international partners.
They play an important role in bringing institutions together by sharing experience and best practice. Cambridge’s research has always been and must continue to be, global in its scope
*Animated clip of the Earth rotating, scientists in a lab and professors teaching*
and reach and we must support our academic staff to continue to contribute at the forefront of international scholarship. CPNI has provided a unique perspective on the challenges and trusted research and its inputs to the development of guidance and best practice has been invaluable.
Now that CPNI has evolved to become the National Protective Security Authority,
*NPSA logo appears, followed by a nine-grid collage of scientists working in labs and lecturers teaching*
I would expect it to be even better placed to help many academic institutions to operate safely and securely now and in the future.
*Text saying ‘Evolve with us because together we’re stronger NPSA National Protective Security Authority - Building resilience to national security threats’*
*Title card reading ‘CPNI Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has evolved to become National Protective Security Authority to reach more people in more sectors than ever before’*
*Text reading 'Working with us. Chris. Head of Security Air-Sector, BAE Systems.'*
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
Security needs to continue to be in the very DNA throughout our entire organisation.
*Footage of aircraft hangar, two photos of factory workers, a welcome sign*
It must remain second nature to everyone; a part of business as usual.
The real challenge is how do we make this relevant and engaging for our staff?
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
This is definitely where CPNI has helped us.
*Photos of engineers at work*
They have taken the time to understand our business and people, meeting face-to-face with our leadership teams
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
to discuss security needs and shape their support to our specific requirements.
*Text saying ‘discuss security needs’ , ‘shape their support’*
Their advice is second to none,
*Photos of engineers, a welder, and an office*
helping us not only better understand the risks we face,
*Photo of a dashboard, factory workers, BAE security workers*
but also the mitigations that we can put in place to secure our business and protect our people. Their simple and clear communication tools like ‘It’s OK to say’ and ‘Think Before You Link’ campaigns really help to keep security at the forefront of our business thinking.
*Text saying ‘Simple and Clear’, ‘It’s Ok to Say’ and ‘Think Before you Link’*
If I had to sum up CPNI and the now the new National Protective Security Authority it would be, a world-class, one-stop shop for cutting-edge security advice and guidance.
*A grid of nine different videos depicting various professionals at their respective workplaces*
*Text saying ‘Evolve with us because together we’re stronger NPSA National Protective Security Authority – Building resilience to national security threats’*
*Title card reading CPNI Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has evolved to become National Protective Security Authority to reach more people in more sectors than ever before*
*Title card reading Working With Us*
*Title card reading Louise Security Supervisor, Canary Wharf Management Ltd*
*Footage of Louise begins*
As an internationally recognised landmark, accommodating key financial institutions,
*Footage of Canary Wharf*
retail outlets and entertainment venues, Canary Wharf is a potential target for organised terrorist attacks
*Image of office building*
*Footage of pedestrian area with busy commuters*
as well as lone actors and political activists.
*Return to footage of Louise*
*Text appearing on screen “Organised Terrorists”, “Lone Actors”, “Political Activists”*
That’s why we must train more security personnel to be ready for every eventuality from public disorders to dealing with explosive devices.
*Footage of CCTV screens, protestors, marches and a riot*
*Return to footage of Louise*
As well as a wealth of online resources to train our staff, attending the Security Control Room Operators Course
*Footage of Security Control Room Operator’s course*
enables people like me to learn first-hand from instructors with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
*Return to footage of Louise*
The role-play exercises are incredibly valuable
*Return to footage of Security Control Room Operator’s course*
playing out various types of attacks and learning from each scenario. They become more complex as the day progresses and you find yourself really immersed in each exercise.
*Return to footage of Louise*
The course also gives you the opportunity to discover insights from the rest of your group
*Return to footage of Security Control Room Operator’s course*
learning how our various organisations operate.
*Return to footage of Louise in a screen like a CCTV camera*
Connecting and sharing is really beneficial.
*Text saying Evolve with us because together we’re stronger NPSA National Protective Security Authority - Building resilience to national security threats*
*Title card reading ‘CPNI Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has evolved to become National Protective Security Authority to reach more people in more sectors than ever before’*
*Text reading 'Working with us. Chris. Director of Industrial Policy, MTC.'*
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
As an organisation working at the intersection
*Footage of factory machinery, mathematical equations on a blackboard*
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
of Advanced Manufacturing and Technology, it is important that we protect our critical knowledge, manufacturing processes and infrastructure.
*Footage of factory machinery and the MTC building*
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
We’ve worked with CPNI, now the National Protective Security Authority, to increase our awareness of the threats, potential vulnerabilities and importantly to put in place mitigations to protect our most critical assets,
*Text saying ‘Awareness of threats’, ‘Potential Vulnerabilities’, ‘Protect critical assets’*
from our staff through to our intellectual property.
*Grid of nine different workplaces*
*Footage of Chris talking to the camera*
From our experience they are a great partner, who are genuinely here to help ensure all organisations working across the
*Footage of scientist, a man walking past servers and two colleagues looking at a screen*
Science, Technology and Critical Knowledge sector can operate as securely and safely as possible.
*Text saying securely and safely*
*Text saying ‘Evolve with us because together we’re stronger NPSA National Protective Security Authority – Building resilience to national security threats’*