The security of sustainability

In the run up to COP26, the world is focused on how we can work to reach net zero targets.There are many considerations when starting your carbon reduction journey. This article highlights the need for data in this journey, and how to make sure it is kept secure.

Collecting your data

The announcement of the new Procurement Policy Note (PPN06/21) on Carbon Reduction Plans has highlighted an often missed area of sustainability.

Carbon reduction is part of sustainability, the 2 have an entwined relationship. Sustainability will not be possible if we don’t get carbon emissions down. 

Organisations sometimes ask us what they need to do to take the first step on their carbon reduction journey. The simple answer is they need to understand their current situation. How this is achieved relies on gathering data, and can include the following:

• sensors which feed environmental information into a main data storage area
• network communications to enable this data to travel
• artificial intelligence (AI) to help sort through all of this information
• clear and concise reports to enable effective forward planning

The need to keep all of this data secure and safe from any sort of cyber-related threat is one aspect that is often overlooked

We are able to supply all of the technology mentioned above – the sensors, the network, the big data, the AI and the software tools. And by using the Cyber Security Service 3 agreement, we can make sure that everything is safe.

Keeping public and private data secure

Freya Evans, Commercial Agreement Specialist for the Cyber Security Services 3 Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) commented:

“Cyber security is a hot topic at the moment. It’s equally important whether you are a large organisation looking to protect great volumes of valuable and sensitive data, or your company has moved to working from home and you need to secure your employees’ work and personal information. This is why we want to support the implementation of sustainable technology across the UK. We understand not only the significance of what is needed to progress in this space, but what efforts need to be made to ensure that public and private data is secure.”

“To give an example, digital transport will play a key part in enabling the country to move further towards lowering carbon emissions. Between mobility as a service (MaaS) software and AI, this will open up a pool of cyber security risks and could potentially be very dangerous if data is not secure.

“We have a team of commercial specialists who focus on cyber security and work closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Our job is to ensure that organisations are buying cyber security services provided by NCSC assured, well-established suppliers who are capable of delivering cyber-secure technology advice and solutions to protect systems and data.

“We have recently expanded the scope of the DPS to enable buyers to buy cyber transformation services which will improve cyber resilience while reducing risk, assisting the movement into more sustainable technology.”

A collective effort

In summary, we all have a part to play in the reduction of carbon emissions. Sometimes this is a big change such as swapping coal to renewables, other times it is about the planning of multiple small adjustments. Two of the COP26 goals are to secure global net zero by mid century and to protect communities and natural habitats. To achieve these changes it will require data – and that data must be secure from the moment it is collected and throughout its journey of being used, analysed and accessed. Cyber security is a tool for doing just this – protecting the data.

Find out more

If you are interested in finding out more about the Cyber Security Services 3 DPS, please visit our website or get in touch by completing our online form.

If you would like to know more about how CCS is looking at sustainability please visit the website or email info@crowncommercial.co.uk