At BT, keeping the UK connected also means keeping the UK safe. Today we were proud to welcome Security Minister Dan Jarvis to our London office – a key moment to mark the success of the Share and Defend programme – a new cyber resilience service developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), BT, and industry partners.
Designed to disrupt online crime at scale, the service works by sharing near real-time intelligence on known fraudulent and malicious websites with internet service providers, who can then prevent customers from clicking through to harmful sites. In less than a year, almost one billion early-stage cyber-attacks and attempts to access scam websites have been blocked by the new government cyber service.
Speaking about the service at the Cyber Resilience Summit 2025, the Security Minister hailed it as a powerful example of what can be achieved when government and businesses work together to keep the country safe. Looking ahead, Share and Defend will expand its reach by onboarding new partners, extending protection to even more people and organisations across the UK.
This announcement is part of BT’s broader cyber‑security drive, working hand‑in‑hand with partners to tackle scams and fraud. Just last month, we joined the wider telecoms industry in signing the second Fraud Charter - an important and timely step forward for the sector and a big step forward in the fight against fraud.
In the same month, our cyber‑security leaders teamed up with experts from Deutsche Bank, ING, Proximus and Santander to take part in Mastercard’s Cyber Defense Exercise (CDX), a high‑stakes simulation designed to test and strengthen Europe’s resilience against evolving threats.
And earlier this year, EE broke new ground by launching ‘Safer SIMs’- becoming the first major network to launch under 18’s smartphone plans. These plans come with built‑in protections, including network‑level content controls, scam call blocking, spend caps and Stay Connected Data.
Alongside these initiatives, BT is continuing to lead in cyber-security - investing in advanced network intelligence and machine learning to detect attacks and stop fraud at its source.
As BT continues its ambition to be the UK’s most trusted digital connector, partnerships like ‘Share and Defend’ are key in safeguarding critical infrastructure. Working together with providers, regulators, and partners ensures we can protect the nation and stay ahead of evolving threats.
