January 2026

CyberScotland updates

News and updates from CyberScotland and our partner network

CyberScotland Partnership welcomes three new partners

The CyberScotland Partnership has welcomed Business Gateway, Institute of Directors (IoD) Scotland and the Cyber and Fraud Hub as new partners, further strengthening its ability to reach businesses, leaders and communities across Scotland. The new partners bring complementary strengths in enterprise support, board-level leadership and fraud prevention, supporting a more joined-up approach to improving cyber resilience and awareness across sectors.

Apply to attend CYBERUK 2026

CYBERUK 2026 takes place in Glasgow on 21–23 April, marking the 10th year of the UK Government’s flagship cyber security event. There is still time to apply to attend with the opportunity to join cyber leaders, practitioners and policymakers from across the UK and beyond.

NSCS issues warning over hacktivist groups disrupting UK organisations and online services

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – a part of GCHQ – has issued an alert highlighting the persistent targeting of UK organisations by Russian state-aligned hacktivist groups aiming to disrupt networks.

CyberScotland Week 2026 – registration continues

CyberScotland Week returns from 23–28 February 2026. From organisations to community groups and individuals, by hosting a CyberScotland Week event, you’re helping to drive the national conversation on cyber resilience. No event is too small – you could host a panel session, workshop, webinar, coffee morning or drop-in session, and play your part in helping people and organisations across Scotland stay safe online.

ScotlandIS highlights cyber resilience at 2026 priority

ScotlandIS has outlined its priorities for 2026, highlighting cyber resilience alongside skills development and artificial intelligence as critical to the future health of Scotland’s digital economy. The organisation has emphasised the importance of strong cyber hygiene and workforce capability as threats continue to evolve..

UK Parliament invites evidence on Cyber Security and Resilience Bill

As the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill progresses through the UK Parliament, cyber security specialists and organisations have been invited to submit evidence to inform scrutiny of the legislation. The House of Commons Public Bill Committee is expected to begin taking evidence from early February 2026, with scrutiny continuing into March. Submissions can be made now, and early engagement is encouraged, as the committee may stop accepting evidence once its consideration of the Bill is complete.

Act Now to Enhance Your Business’s Cyber Resilience

A joint blog from the British Chamber of Commerce and the UK Minister for Digital Economy calls on all businesses to take steps to boost their cyber resilience to reduce their risks and support growth.

Scottish Cyber Awards 2026 – entries closing soon

The Scottish Cyber Awards 2026 will take place on 26 March at the Edinburgh International Conference centre (EICC), celebrating the individuals and organisations who are shaping the future of cyber security across Scotland. You can still put yourself, a colleague or your organisation up for an award!

Programme live for The Gathering 2026

The programme for SCVO’s The Gathering 2026 is now live, with events taking place on 10-11 February. This year’s programme includes dedicated cyber security sessions alongside a wide range of learning and networking opportunities for the voluntary sector.

Bookings open for Digital Youth Work Conference 2026

YouthLink Scotland has opened bookings for the Digital Youth Work Conference 2026, taking place on 10 February in Edinburgh. The conference will explore digital practice, online safety and emerging challenges facing young people and those who support them.

Going Phishing: new video resource

Lead Scotland has created a new video resource explaining what phishing is, why it is a risk, and how to stay safe from phishing attempts.

In other news…

Cyber security news from Scotland and the rest of the UK

New UK Government cyber unit begins work

A new cross-government cyber unit has begun work as part of the UK Government’s Cyber Action Plan, aiming to strengthen coordination on cyber risk management and incident response across public services. The unit is backed by over £210 million in government investment.

Deepfake detection pilot ahead of 2026 elections

A UK pilot project will deploy deepfake detection technology ahead of the 2026 Scottish and Welsh elections, reflecting growing concern about the use of synthetic media to undermine trust in democratic processes.

An explosion in crypto crime

According to a 2024 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) survey, approximately 12% of British adults own crypto-assets – equivalent to about seven million people. Read how crypto criminals have stolen $700 million from people through cyber and physical attacks.

The CyberScotland Bulletin is a monthly roundup of news and updates on cyber security and resilience with a particular focus on Scotland. Feel free to forward it to anyone in your network who might benefit from it.

Please ensure you only take information from trusted sources. The NCSC has a useful glossary of cyber terms you may wish to reference while you read the bulletin.

For more regular updates follow CyberScotland on X or LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and BlueSky.

Remember, to report an email phishing attempt, forward your email to the National Cyber Security Centre: report@phishing.gov.uk

If you are a victim of cyber crime, please report it to Police Scotland by calling 101.

The CyberScotland Partnership is a collaborative leadership approach to focus efforts on improving cyber resilience across Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s key strategic stakeholders have come together in a formal partnership arrangement to drive the delivery of activities that will achieve the outcomes of The Strategic Framework for a Cyber Resilient Scotland.

Updates