The UK government has rolled out a new plan to strengthen the country’s defenses against growing cyber threats. It has introduced the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to Parliament — a law that aims to bring tougher rules to more companies in the tech and digital services space.
The big change is that the bill expands current NIS regulations. This means IT management companies, tech support providers, and even cybersecurity firms themselves will now have to follow the same strict security standards as major infrastructure operators. Companies that don’t comply could face serious penalties tied to their earnings.
The goal is simple: make the UK’s digital systems more secure, improve how the country responds to cyberattacks, and protect public and private services from hackers — including those backed by hostile foreign governments. A recent study showed how urgent the problem is: major cyberattacks are costing the UK about £14.7 billion every year, with a typical attack costing a company around £190,000.
The bill also takes aim at AI misuse. It includes new rules designed to stop bad actors from using artificial intelligence to create harmful content, including child sexual abuse material. Trusted organizations will be allowed to test AI models for weaknesses before criminals can exploit them.
This new push for stronger cybersecurity comes alongside a high-profile criminal investigation in the crypto world. The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating Basis Markets, a collapsed crypto hedge fund accused of tricking retail investors out of $28 million.
Two men have been arrested. Basis Markets sold unregistered NFTs and tokens in 2021, claiming to be a “low-risk” investment fund. But the project crashed in 2022, leaving investors with losses and unanswered questions. For years, the case sat dormant, but the SFO has now relaunched raids and is urging victims to come forward.
This crackdown follows other major actions in the UK — including the conviction of Zhimin Qian, who ran one of the biggest Bitcoin fraud schemes ever discovered.
With tougher laws, renewed investigations, and a closer eye on the crypto sector, the UK is signaling a clear message: it’s stepping up to protect people, businesses, and public services from fast-evolving digital threats.
