Government spies lend computer support to Brit firms

The UK government's secret communications headquarters GCHQ could lend private businesses its computing expertise as part of a new cyber security strategy launched today.

Ministers say it is critical the public and private sector cooperate more closely in order to prevent cyber attacks. Therefore it is willing to sell parts of its in-house software and provide security training to private companies.

Guardian.co.uk says that the move could lead to "substantial" sums of revenue for the intelligence agency based in Cheltenham.

It is just one of a number of proposals that justify the £650 million investment the government set aside for cyber security in last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Other ideas include creating a new cybercrime unit in the National Crime Agency for only the most serious of crimes and recruiting computer support specialists with a background in cyber security to the national police forces.

"The strategy heralds a new era of unprecedented co-operation between the government and industry on cyber security, working hand in hand to make the UK one of the most secure places in the world to do business," said the minister for cyber security, Francis Maude in a Number10.gov.uk statement.

Fifteen big businesses are already on board with the project, due to go into pilot phase next month, including BT, Vodafone and Barclays bank.

> Return to News Index << Previous Next >>