The UK and Jordan strategic relationship - Fit for the cyber age

By Brigadier F.A.J. Piggott, CBE, Defence Attaché, British Embassy Amman

As we become ever more connected in a borderless digital world, a trend accelerated by the rise of remote working and education during the pandemic, the frequency, severity and sophistication of cyber attacks has also increased. It is, therefore, little surprise that the issue of cyber security and methods to effectively counter the growing threat has taken center stage for governments, business and individuals alike.

Globally, we face constant and rapidly changing threats to our networks, from state actors seeking to obtain an information advantage or infiltrate Critical National Infrastructure, to cyber criminals attempting to profit from our digital economies. For Jordan and the UK, with numerous shared security goals and £561m of annual bilateral trade flowing between our two markets, there is an imperative to ensure our respective digital infrastructures are protected. Because of these shared interests, and with a long-standing security relationship now in its 100th year, we are also well placed to also collaborate effectively on emerging requirements like cyber security.

The UK was quick to recognise the cyber threat to its own national security and prosperity, and set out Britain’s first National Cyber Security Strategy in 2011. In 2016, supported by £1.9billion of transformational investment, the UK later launched its world-leading cyber security facility, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). While the centre remains a part of the UK’s national security community, it is a public-facing body that seeks to support best practice in all sectors. It is an excellent model for other countries to emulate in an area where tried-and-tested approaches are effective and transferable.  

Like the UK, Jordan has also adopted a proactive approach to cyber security and effective cyber risk management in order to safeguard its economy and security.  With a clear National Cyber Security Strategy, underpinned by comprehensive cyber security legislation and an institutional approach to cyber governance, Jordan has articulated a solid plan to address the threat and maintain a long-term cyber defence capability.  To add to its developing cyber security architecture, Jordan also established a National Center for Cybersecurity in 2020 which looks to further bolster the Kingdom’s capacity to control digital threats.

Partnering with the UK to bolster cyber skills in Jordan

However, all of this effort is for naught if there is not a cyber security skill base to draw from; some countries can buy in their experts, others seek to develop their own. Jordan is seeking to capitalise on both approaches by developing a domestic and exportable pool of experts from its highly qualified graduate and professional sector.  In 2020, as a critical building block of its cyber security architecture, it established a National Cyber Security Academy which was designed and launched in partnership between the Jordanian Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) and the UK’s cyber security firm Protection Group International (PGI).

The Academy’s main stated role is to upskill Jordanians to meet their domestic requirement and fill some of the tens of thousands of unfilled cyber security roles in the MENA region. Its vision is therefore to support national security objectives but also provide essential training for its youth, addressing a skills shortfall and attending to a regionally familiar issue of high unemployment.  As a part of this, the Academy states it is committed to training young women, supporting His Majesty King Abdullah’s drive to open up employment opportunities in the security sector under the Jordanian National Action Plan for advancing the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.   Further, the Academy aspires to become a training centre other countries around the region can use to develop their own national skill base and proposes to offer transition training for those leaving the Armed Forces, borrowing from similar PGI supported initiatives in the UK.  

It is a compelling vision and one that UK commercial expertise is well placed to support.  The UK’s excellence in cyber security is both widely recognised and valued by employers and the Jordanian Academy’s methods are already underpinned by robust UK NCSC standards and schemes. These include the NCSC training certification, the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISEC) cyber security skills framework, and CREST certification, which provides accreditation for organisations and individuals who undergo stringent assessment to demonstrate knowledge, skill and competence in cyber security. These internationally-recognised certifications and standards give regional clients confidence that those who qualify from the Academy have the skills and experience to deliver in demanding cyber security roles. The same UK Government standards and assured quality underpin the UK cyber industry’s offer within the wider Middle East and around the world.

Our national relationship is such that the UK is in a strong position to assist Jordan’s development of its domestic cyber capability and contribute to its ongoing stability and resilience. The UK Government’s Integrated Review, launched in March 2021, places science and technology at the heart of our international policy, both deepening relationships with allies and partners around the world and firmly establishing the UK as a responsible global cyber power. As a force for good, we seek to develop a peaceful and secure cyberspace that detects, disrupts and deters our adversaries, strengthening security, bolstering democracy and driving prosperity at home and overseas.  We look forward to working with Jordan to pursue these aims.