March 2026

CyberScotland updates

News and updates from CyberScotland and our partner network

Futurescot Cyber Security 2026 spotlights national resilience and Scotland’s Cyber Action Plan

As part of CyberScotland Week, Futurescot’s Cyber Security 2026 conference brought together leaders from government, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, industry and academia to discuss the most pressing issues facing Scotland’s digital resilience. This year’s agenda focused on national-level defence coordination, the role of AI and automation, the launch of The Strategic Framework for a Cyber Resilient Scotland’s Action Plan and Scotland’s new Cyber Observatory.

Cyber Essentials campaign highlights support for small businesses

The UK Government and National Cyber Security Centre have launched a campaign encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to strengthen their defences through Cyber Essentials. The campaign reinforces the message that no business is too small to be a target and promotes practical action to reduce exposure to common cyber threats. IASME has also published an update on changes to Cyber Essentials for April 2026.

Scottish Cyber Activity Report 2026 highlights public sector resilience challenges

The Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre (SC3) has published its inaugural Scottish Cyber Activity Report (SCAR), providing the first consolidated, evidence-based picture of cyber activity across Scotland’s public sector. Drawing on national assessment data, incident reporting and threat intelligence, the report highlights persistent resilience challenges including gaps in sharing intelligence, implementing lessons learned, and business continuity plans that do not reflect the reality of prolonged digital disruption. It emphasises the critical role of leadership and governance in driving effective recovery.

Scottish Cyber Awards 2026 finalists announced

The finalists for the Scottish Cyber Awards 2026 have been announced ahead of this month’s ceremony at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Now in its eighth year, the awards continue to showcase the depth of talent, innovation and leadership across Scotland’s cyber security community.

Representation matters – especially in cybersecurity

Women represent just 17% of the UK cyber workforce, with wider diversity gaps still evident. When diverse cyber professionals share their journey, it:

✨ Makes cyber careers feel possible

✨ Breaks stereotypes

✨ Provides real-world roadmaps

✨ Strengthens the future workforce

DYW Scotland connects professionals with schools to deliver cyber skills and careers education, supported by trusted partners such as the National Cyber Security Centre.

Your experience could change how a young person sees their future.

Get involved today. For more information visit: Employers – DYW – Scotland

Major study reveals how ready UK local councils are for AI technology

A new study has examined how prepared UK local councils are to adopt artificial intelligence technologies, highlighting both growing interest and significant capability gaps across the sector. The research found that while many councils recognise the potential of AI to improve public services and efficiency, challenges remain around skills, governance, data readiness and cyber security. The report stresses the importance of strong leadership, workforce training and clear policies to ensure AI is deployed responsibly and securely within local government.

CyberScotland Street to convene in Glasgow at flagship CYBERUK conference

Leaders in cyber security from around the world will gather in Glasgow next month for CYBERUK 2026, the UK Government’s flagship cyber security conference. Hosted by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at the SEC from 21–23 April, the event will welcome over 2,500 attendees from industry, academia and government to explore the theme of accelerating cyber defences in the face of evolving threats. CyberScotland Street, supported by the Scottish Government, will also feature at the conference, showcasing a diverse range of organisations from SMEs to CyberScotland partners highlighting collaborative efforts to strengthen cyber resilience across Scotland.

Lead Scotland launches cyber research to improve digital inclusion

Lead Scotland is inviting people to take part in new research exploring cyber awareness and online safety, particularly among disabled people and carers. The research forms part of the organisation’s wider cyber project, which aims to make online safety learning more accessible and inclusive. The survey is open until 31^st March.

Free cyber learning opportunities highlighted during CyberScotland Week

Skills Development Scotland highlighted a range of free cyber learning opportunities through its Digital Learning Initiative. The programme offers access to hundreds of online courses from major technology companies including Microsoft, Amazon and Cisco, helping individuals build cyber security skills and improve their digital capability.

In other news…

Cyber security news from Scotland and the rest of the UK

Scottish Government sets out new AI Strategy for economic growth

The Scottish Government has unveiled a new five-year AI Strategy aimed at positioning Scotland at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation. The strategy sets out plans to support businesses in adopting AI, drive productivity and create new jobs, with the potential to add £23 billion to the economy by 2035.

UK Government launches new cyber profession and vulnerability monitoring service

The UK Government has announced a new Cyber Profession for government alongside a vulnerability monitoring service designed to identify weaknesses faster across public sector systems. Ministers said the changes have helped reduce serious unresolved vulnerabilities and significantly cut the time taken to remediate issues.

NCSC issues alert following conflict in the Middle East

The NCSC has advised UK organisations to review their cyber security posture following developments in the Middle East. While it said there is no current significant direct change to the cyber threat to the UK, it warned there is a heightened risk of indirect impacts for organisations with a presence or supply chains in the region.

New Fraud Strategy published

The Home Office has published the UK Fraud Strategy 2026 to 2029, setting out plans to combat fraud against individuals and businesses over the next three years. The strategy is accompanied by a new disruption unit aimed at strengthening action against fraud and improving protection for the public.

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.

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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