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Support for Researchers: Trusted Research

Guidance for researchers, university staff and funding organisations to help keep sensitive research and intellectual property secure.

Support for early-stage tech businesses: Secure Innovation

Guidance and tools for tech startups to help protect your technology, reputation, and future success.

We face enduring threats from hostile states and cyber criminals looking to exploit our dependency on the technology that now underpins all aspects of modern life. 

Richard Horne, CEO NCSC

The UK has a strong record in research and development and a vibrant startup ecosystem. This can make UK research institutes and innovative UK companies attractive targets for: 

• State actors looking to steal technology. 
• Competitors seeking commercial advantage.
• Criminals looking to profit from weak security.

The NCSC, in collaboration with the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), has a set of guidance and resources developed specifically for the UK’s research and innovation sector. This is part of a broader programme of work by the NCSC designed to support the sector through direct engagement, close collaboration with partners, and targeted interventions. Find out more about the guidance most relevant to you below, and act now to protect your research and innovation. 

Trusted Research is advice and guidance published jointly by NCSC and the NPSA which supports the integrity of the system of international research collaboration. Designed in partnership with the sector, it provides guidance to researchers, university staff and funding organisations to help keep sensitive research and intellectual property secure from theft, misuse or exploitation. Practical resources to help Higher Education Institutions improve their cyber security is available at Cyber Security for Higher Education Institutions.

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Core guidance 

	Trusted Research Guidance for Academia Whether you hold sensitive medical data or commercially sensitive information, protecting your research is important to you, your institution and your partners. View guidance
	Trusted Research Guidance for Senior Leaders This guide accompanies the Trusted Research booklet and is designed for senior University leaders to have the key issues and questions at their fingertips. View guidance
	Trusted Research Guidance for Industry If your research is obtained by a state-backed actor, whether through legitimate means or not, you and your research could be affected in a number of other ways. View guidance

Supporting resources

Secure Innovation is a partnership campaign supporting early-stage technology businesses and startups to protect their technology, reputation, and future success.  It is part of the five eyes intelligence partnership, delivered in the UK by the NCSC and NPSA

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Advice and guidance

	Company Guidance This guidance is for founders or CEOs of innovative startups. View guidance
	Investor Guidance This guidance is for early-stage investors in emerging technology companies. View guidance

Supporting resources

	Background Checks Guidance Designed to help companies conduct basic background checks which can enable you to make more informed decisions on prospective partners.  View guidance
	Travel Security Guidance Designed to help companies develop a travel security policy to help overcome the main security challenges presented when working or travelling overseas View guidance
	Scenarios Booklet Provides scenarios to help illustrate the security threats and how to protect your business from them.  View booklet

The NCSC’s Funded Cyber Essentials Programme aims to help small companies and organisations within sectors most at risk of cyber attack with free, hands-on help to implement the cyber security controls that prevent most common types of attacks.

Details on the qualifying criteria for each sector and how to apply can be found on Funded Cyber Essentials Programme.