UK ministers are preparing to brief senior business leaders on the security threats posed by Russia, as the government seeks to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors.
The briefing is expected to focus on the growing range of threats facing British organisations, including cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage and other forms of hybrid activity.
British security officials have repeatedly warned that Russia is using a combination of cyber operations and other covert methods to target the UK and its allies. GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler said Russia was conducting daily hybrid activity against Britain and Europe, describing the threat as extending “from the seabed to cyberspace.”
Businesses are considered an important part of the UK's wider security effort because companies operate much of the country's critical infrastructure and hold large amounts of sensitive data.
The government has also taken action against Russian-linked cyber networks. In recent sanctions announced jointly with the European Union, Britain targeted 24 individuals and entities accused of involvement in destructive cyber and hybrid operations linked to Russian intelligence services.
The UK government said Russian intelligence agencies have used criminal networks to obtain information and conduct cyber espionage, while also linking Russian actors to attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure.
Officials are expected to encourage company executives to improve their cyber defences, share information about suspicious activity and work more closely with government agencies when threats emerge.
The planned engagement comes as concerns about Russian activity extend beyond traditional military operations. Governments across Europe have increasingly highlighted cyberattacks, disinformation, espionage and attacks on infrastructure as part of the broader security challenge associated with Russia.
The briefing is therefore intended to help businesses better understand the risks and strengthen their resilience as the UK continues to respond to the wider security situation in Europe.