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Protecting Wales from cyber attacks and creating jobs is at the heart of the Welsh Government’s newly-launched Cyber Action Plan.

Launched this week by Wales’ economy minister Vaughan Gething, the plan also aims to bring through future talent for the UK’s fast-growing cyber industry.

The plans sets out aims to ensure businesses, organisations and public services do more to prepare for and deal with cyber attacks, as well as creating jobs in the cyber industry.

Mr Gething said: “Cyber is already a great strength for Wales, and we boast one of the strongest cyber eco-systems in the UK.

“We are excited about cyber’s potential to offer careers for young people from all backgrounds who can plan their future in Wales with real ambition.”

He said the plan “builds on the success we’ve seen already and sets out how we will work with our partners to grow the sector even further”.

Mr Gething also spoke of the Welsh Government’s aim to create a “more diverse sector that is driven by talent and not held back by glass ceilings”. – highlighting Wales’ ‘Women in Cyber clusters’.

The minister also said innovation across the cyber sector “makes Wales an attractive offer for those working in cyber and a great place to build businesses in the industry”.

He continued: “As well as creating opportunities and jobs, it stimulates the development of cyber skills, which in turn makes our businesses and public services more resilient to cyber threats.

“By uniting around the priority areas of the Cyber Action Plan, we can win a more prosperous future for Wales through resilience, talent and innovation.”

The Welsh Government has invested £3m towards a new Cyber Innovation Hub, which opened in Cardiff earlier this week.

The hub brings together those from industry, government, defence and academic sectors to grow the cyber security sector in Wales.