What is the Impact of BREXIT on Cyber Security?

The immediate response to the British decision to leave the European Union has sent the pound tumbling and raised suggestions that Britain is now a sitting target for cyber criminals. Let's start with the facts. Firstly, Britain is not yet leaving the EU. The referendum has only advisory status on the government, and only the government can choose to leave. That will require a majority vote in Parliament to invoke article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon -- and that won't happen while David Cameron is prime minister. It is not guaranteed that Parliament will get that majority since the majority of MPs do not wish to leave. If and when article 50 is invoked it will start a two year period where both sides negotiate exit terms. During all of this period, the UK will remain a full member of the European Union. And it is in everyone's interest to reach an amicable and smooth exit. The primary security concerns revolve around General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) issues, a loss of threat intelligence cooperation with Europe, an increasing cost of security (because of the falling value of the pound), and the loss of access to European technical expertise. Each one of these should be considered rationally. GDPR is likely to go ahead in the UK. Technically, it must go ahead since it will become law before the UK actually leaves the European Union. Practically, it will go ahead because it is the easiest way to maintain 'privacy adequacy' and continue easy trading between the UK and Europe. This immediately removes one of the big issues: there will be no need for US companies to move servers from London to The Hague simply to conform to GDPR. How will BREXIT impact cyber security in Great Brittan and the nations which remain in the EU? Share your comments with the Cloud and Cyber Security Center.