The UK has today published the first global guidelines to ensure the secure development of AI technology. NCSC has collaborated with industry experts and different international agencies to develop guides that can assist the developers of AI systems to incorporate cybersecurity at different phases of design.

• The guidelines are the first of their kind to be agreed globally.
• They will help developers of any systems that use AI make informed cybersecurity decisions at every stage of the development process.
• The guidelines help developers ensure that cyber security is both an essential pre-condition of AI system safety and integral to the development process from the outset and throughout, known as a ‘secure by design’ approach.

Secure Design, Development, Deployment, and Operation:

The guidelines, a collaborative effort of 21 international agencies and ministries, offer a comprehensive framework encompassing secure design, development, deployment, and operation of AI systems. Emphasizing cybersecurity as a core requirement, they provide suggested behaviors to enhance security throughout the development lifecycle.

International Signatories:

These guidelines have been officially promoted by agencies from Australia, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the UK, and the US.

Industry and Government Support:

Notable participants in the guidelines' launch event include Microsoft, the Alan Turing Institute, and cyber security agencies from the UK, US, Canada, and Germany.

Leadership Acknowledgment:

NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron emphasizes the need for international collaboration to address the rapid pace of AI development, highlighting the guidelines as a significant step in shaping a global understanding of cyber risks.

CISA Director Jen Easterly and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas underline the historic agreement's importance, providing a path for developing secure, trustworthy AI systems on a global scale.

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan positions the UK as an international standard bearer on AI safety, stressing the guidelines' role in embedding cybersecurity into AI development.

The guidelines, accessible on the NCSC website, mark a crucial milestone in global AI safety, fostering transparency, accountability, and secure practices in the ongoing technology revolution.