Guest Writer article from Michael Hilton, Technical Product Manager – IEng MIMechE, Petards Rail Solutions.
The UK rail industry has long recognised the potential consequences of cyber threats and has taken proactive steps to strengthen its digital defences. With the convergence of legacy OT and modern IT-based systems, ensuring the resilience of rolling stock and infrastructure has become not only a technical necessity but also a regulatory obligation. Today, rail operators, suppliers, and infrastructure managers must align with a growing body of standards and legal frameworks designed to safeguard the sector from cyber disruption.
Strengthened by legislation: The Cyber and Resilience Bill
At the forefront of this evolving regulatory landscape is the UK Cyber and Resilience Bill, a landmark piece of legislation introduced to bolster national resilience against cyber threats across critical sectors, including rail. Building upon the foundation laid by the NIS Regulations 2018 and considering the more recent NIS2 directive, this new bill is expected to tighten oversight, increase reporting obligations, and raise the bar for security preparedness among Operators of…
