UK cybersecurity sector revenue exceeds £10 billion, figures show

The Government’s latest Annual Cyber Sector Report also showed record investment in the cybersecurity sector last year.

Martyn Landi
Thursday 17 February 2022 00:01 GMT
The UK’s cybersecurity sector generated revenue of more than £10bn over the last financial year and created more than 6,000 jobs, new figures show (Tim Goode/PA)
The UK’s cybersecurity sector generated revenue of more than £10bn over the last financial year and created more than 6,000 jobs, new figures show (Tim Goode/PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The UK’s cybersecurity sector generated revenue of more than £10 billion over the last financial year and created more than 6,000 jobs, new figures show.

The Annual Cyber Sector Report, released by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), said revenue rose 14% on the previous year to £10.1 billion.

It said the sector contributed around £5.3 billion to the UK economy in 2021 – up a third – and employment was up 13%, with more than 6,000 jobs created, alongside what the report called record levels of external investment with more than £1 billion in funding raised.

The figures show that around 52,700 people are now working in the cyber industry in the UK, with 1,838 active cybersecurity firms in the country.

Cybersecurity firms are major contributors to the UK's incredible tech success story

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries

The report noted that more than half of these companies are based outside London and the South East, with growth noted in particular in the North East and East Midlands.

The rise comes amid an increase in focus and investment in the cybersecurity sector following the publication of the Government’s National Cyber Strategy, which aims to boost cyber skills and encourage further growth in the sector.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Cybersecurity firms are major contributors to the UK’s incredible tech success story.

“Hundreds of British firms from Edinburgh to Bristol are developing and selling cutting-edge cyber tools around the world that make it safer for people to live and work online.

“We are investing in skills training and business initiatives to help the UK go from strength to strength as a global cyber power and open up the sector to people from all walks of life.”

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in