Frequently asked questions
Advice, standards and publications
How do I get advice from CPNI?
This website provides a range of advice covering information, physical and personnel security relevant to the protection of the UK's national infrastructure.
If you are a business or organisation which owns or operates services or assets within the national infrastructure, you can receive further advice directly from CPNI. If you believe that your work falls within this category, but you are not currently receiving advice and would like to, please contact us with your details.
Please note: if you are not a national infrastructure organisation, you may still find the information on this website to be useful. However, we are unable to provide you with any additional advice or give you access to other products and services except those which you can access freely on this website.
Does CPNI produce any standards or recommend security products to use?
CPNI works with a range of stakeholders to develop relevant standards, for example PAS 97: 2009 A Specification for Mail Screening and Security. You can find further details in the protecting your assets section of this website but note that CPNI does not recommend individual products. National infrastructure organisations may obtain guidance from their CPNI advisor; however, CPNI does not provide advice to non-national infrastructure organisations other than what is freely available on this site.
Can I have access to a CPNI publication to help with my work?
You may use publications from this website to help with your work in accordance with our terms and conditions. We cannot provide you with access to any other publications.
Can I use information from CPNI's website in my own work or publications?
The material featured on CPNI's website is subject to Crown Copyright protection unless otherwise indicated. The Crown Copyright protected material (other than CPNI logo and website design) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. Where any of the Crown Copyright items on this site are being republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
The permission to reproduce Crown protected material does not extend to any material on this site which is identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.
For further information on Crown copyright policy and licensing arrangements, please refer to the guidance on the OPSI website.
Do you offer courses or training?
See the events page for details of up-coming events and details of who in the national infrastructure should attend. We are not able to provide courses or training to organisations outside the national infrastructure.
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Jobs and careers
Does CPNI offer work experience?
We are not able to offer work experience placements or consider speculative CVs.
I am interested in working for CPNI - how do I apply for a job?
See the job vacancies page, where details of any available positions will be advertised. Please do not send us speculative CVs as we are unable to consider them.
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Understanding and reporting terrorism
What should I do if I spot suspicious activity outside my business or organisation, which I think might be connected to terrorism?
Businesses can reduce the risk to themselves, their employees and customers by remaining vigilant, being security minded and having good security measures in place. A small investment in security measures helps to protect businesses against crime and make the work of terrorists more difficult.
Advice on business security measures can be obtained from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), a specialist police organisation. Dedicated Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) are located in each of the UK's regional police forces. They provide protective and counter terrorism security advice to support businesses and reduce vulnerability to terrorist threats. The advice they provide takes into account both conventional and non-conventional terrorist techniques. The CTSAs work closely with other police forces throughout the country, Government departments and other agencies.
To obtain contact details for your nearest CTSA, please see your local police force's website. A full list of police force websites can be found at can be found on the UK Police Service website.
If your information relates to an imminent threat to life or property, please contact the police on 999 or the police Anti-terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
What can I do to prepare and protect my family against terrorism?
The security advice provided on this website is designed to help businesses and other national infrastructure organisations put effective measures in place to protect against terrorism and other forms of attack. The Government's "Preparing for Emergencies" booklet, issued to all UK households in August 2004, and the preparing for emergencies web pages provide practical, common sense advice for members of the public on how to prevent and prepare for a terrorist attack and what to do in an emergency.
If you are aware of something suspicious, trust your instincts and report it to the police. What might seem insignificant on its own could actually provide a vital link in a wider investigation. If your information relates to an imminent threat to life or property, please contact the police on 999 or the police Anti-terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
How does the UK's threat alert system work?
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) analyses intelligence relating to international terrorism and produces classified assessments of the threats for a range of government departments and agencies. A general assessment of the current threat level is provided on this website. A more detailed explanation of how the threat level system works is provided on the MI5 website.
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Researchers and security equipment manufacturers
My academic institution is considering undertaking research that might be of interest to CPNI. What collaboration might be possible?
CPNI sponsors research and work in partnership with academia, other government agencies, research institutions and the private sector to develop applications which can reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks and lessen the impact when terrorist attacks take place. If you think your institution's proposed research might come under this category, please contact CPNI.
I am manufacturing a new piece of equipment, which I believe will help protect the national infrastructure. Will CPNI contact critical national infrastructure companies on my behalf?
No, CPNI does not recommend individual products to critical national infrastructure organisations. However, if you would like to contact us outlining what your product does, we would be happy to consider it further. Due to the volume of these kinds of requests, we cannot respond to every enquiry.
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17/09/2009