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There is a long way to go, of course, before we actually stand alone - two years and counting - but already concerns about the security implications of the UK's exit decision are surfacing.

To look at this from a purely 'parochial' level, more than one third of those who work in the IT security industry (38%) fear that leaving the EU will make the UK more vulnerable to cyber attacks, according to new research, because they will no longer benefit from intelligence-sharing with other EU states.*

The research, which surveyed the attitudes of around 300 IT security professionals at the Infosecurity Europe conference, also found that over half of respondents (52%) believed that UK organisations will still have to comply with EU legislation, in order to trade with Europe.

Furthermore, the vast majority (78%) of those surveyed did not believe that their jobs will be made any easier by Britain leaving the EU. At the same time, less than a quarter actively supported EU legislation around data protection, and believed it benefited them and their work.

Certainly, cyber attackers are not confined by geographical boundaries, transcending borders and jurisdictions at will to maximise malicious effect. "The truth is that we can provide a stronger and more robust defence against emerging threats by working together and sharing information," states Javvad Malik, security advocate at AlienVault.

I agree - and my own view is that the status quo on cyber defence will continue to exist long after the UK has been formally divorced from the other EU member states. There can be no benefit to the EU not continuing to work closely with the UK to keep the attackers at bay. That would be a classic instance of cutting off its nose to spite its face. We need each other whether the UK is in or out, and will continue to share the intelligence that helps one another stay safe. This is simply symbiotic pragmatism.

Yes, there are uncertain times ahead as the preparations for 'unravelling' get underway. But, then again, uncertainty is the common currency we all trade in these days. It is now up to the UK to make the best of our situation, forging a country that still engages closely with Europe and the rest of the world in a fair, democratic and progressive way, while seeking to advance its own interests.

* Research conducted by Unified Security Management and crowd-sourced threat intelligence company AlienVault

Brian Wall
Editor
Computing Security
brian.wall@btc.co.uk