In the words of Sir Humphrey Appleby, making a lot of waivers would be a courageous thing to do. The changes we have made to the administration of the PSM reflect the importance we place on protective security. The simple fact is that the Government has the very clear expectation that the guidelines and practices outlined in the PSM will be observed and implemented. Only classification is now to be given a strict interpretation. I'd like to address today is the impact of technology on national security.
New technologies pervade virtually every aspect of our lives.
They dominate our economy. It is becoming increasingly clear that information is the basis upon which first world economies operate. The process of wealth generation, the production of goods and services and the provision of essential government functions all depend on the continued and smooth functioning of computer networks and information technologies. The National Information Infrastructure comprises services such as telecommunications, transport and banking and finance. All of these things are absolutely critical to the national economy.