Digital protection needs to speed up (6)
I believe the answer is:
toecap
'digital protection' is the definition.
'toecap' can be an answer for 'protection' (toecap is a kind of protection). I am not certain of the 'digital' bit.
'to speed up' is the wordplay.
'speed' becomes 'pace' (pace is a kind of speed).
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'pace' back-to-front is 'ecap'.
'to'+'ecap'='TOECAP'
'needs' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for toecap that I've seen before include "Steel part for shoe" , "Front cover of shoe" , "Boot's metal end" , "part of Oxford, perhaps" , "Boot or shoe item" .)