During the five year period (2011-2016) of the UK’s first National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP), the Trustworthy Software Initiative (TSI) was established and funded to coalesce ad hoc activity across five facets of Trustworthy Software (Safety – Reliability – Availability – Resilience – Security [SRARS]) into a single management focus, and address aspects of Multinational Trustworthy Software Roadmap of the highest priority to the UK.

Major milestones have included the publication of BS PAS754:2014, and development of Reference Curricula and supporting materials for education and training.

April 2016 saw the launch of an independent, not-for-profit, Trustworthy Software Foundation (TSFdn), sponsored by relevant professional bodies to continue with the support and evolution of outputs that were initiated by the predecessor TSI.

The TSFdn will continue to be based at the Cyber Security Centre of the University of Warwick, and will be led by a Chief Operating and Technical Officer (COTO), Ian Bryant, who was the former Technical Director of TSI.

In addition to the sponsoring professional bodies, TSFdn will continue to work with a cross-section of stakeholders through the existing Advisory Committee on Trustworthy Software (ACTS), which will continue to be chaired by Sir Edmund Burton, and will operate working groups to engage with particular stakeholder interests.

Professor Tim Watson, Director of the Cyber Security Centre at WMG, comments: “Trustworthy software is vital for us all. We need to have confidence in the systems we rely on to protect our personal information, that control our power, water and food supplies, that manage our financial systems, and that defend our critical national infrastructure. The launch of the Trustworthy Software Foundation is a significant event and its work should create a safer, more secure and resilient digital environment for us all. WMG is very proud to be contributing to, and hosting, the Trustworthy Software Foundation.”