Publication - Strategy/plan

Cyber Resilient Scotland 2025 to 2030: strategic framework

Published: 5 November 2025
From: Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
Directorate: Digital Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Communities and third sector, Education, +2 more … Public sector, Work and skills
ISBN: 9781806432455

Refresh of the strategic framework for a Cyber Resilient Scotland 2021. In the face of an ever-changing cyber threat landscape, it will build on progress to date and address ongoing - and new - challenges.

Supporting documents

Annex B

Emerging technologies and associated cyber security threats

Emerging technology	Description	Cyber security threats
Artificial Intelligence (AI)	AI systems learn from data to make decisions or generate content	AI can launch faster, larger-scale automated attacks Use of AI to create malware, generate phishing emails and deepfakes Prompt injection attacks Social engineering
Internet of Things (IoT)	Network of connected physical devices, such as broadband routers, smart home hubs, remote patient monitoring	Insecure default settings and lack of patching Malicious software (malware) can take over people’s internet connected devices and create networks of infected devices (botnets) which can be used to launch cyber attacks Physical tampering
Quantum computing	Computing using quantum bits (qubits)	Classical encryption tools may become obsolete and threaten data confidentiality and integrity “Harvest-now, decrypt-later” attacks could allow criminals to steal and store encrypted files until more advanced quantum computers emerge
Blockchain	Decentralised apps, smart contracts and digital assets	Smart contract bugs Private key theft Phishing and social engineering Routing attacks
Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR)	Immersive digital environments for interaction	Identity spoofing Sensor data leakage Manipulation of virtual environments
Robotics and Autonomous Systems	Robots, drones and self-driving cars	Ransomware and malware attacks Remote hijacking Espionage Sensor interference Data breaches GPS spoofing
Biometric Authentication	Use of biological traits for identity verification	Biometric data theft Spoofing (e.g. fake fingerprints) Deepfakes and AI-generated threats
Connected Places	Urban areas using sensors and data for efficiency	Infrastructure sabotage Privacy violations Surveillance misuse
Space-based technologies	Satellite internet, remote sensing and navigation	Signal jamming/spoofing Satellite hacking Ground station vulnerabilities
Genomics and Bioinformatics	Use of computing in genetic research and healthcare	Genetic data breaches Targeted bio-attacks Data misuse in insurance/employment

Contact

Email: CyberResilience@gov.scot

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Information

Annex B

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