CYBER STRATEGY

Hornchurch and Rainham MP and Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Brokenshire has called for a national cyber-security strategy to combat growing threats to this country’s interests during a keynote speech to police officers and other law enforcement staff at a conference on hi-tech crime organised by Microsoft.  The MP’s comments followed President Obama’s announcement of proposals for securing US computer networks with America’s digital infrastructure being treated as a strategic national asset.  President Obama commented that the on-line threat was one of the most serious economic and national security challenges facing the US. 

In 2007, government, political and business websites in Estonia were shut down after being bombarded by spam email claimed to have been directed by computer hackers based in Russia.  In response, NATO established a specialist unit to combat on-line attacks against national or economic assets, but according to responses provided to questions raised by James Brokenshire the UK is only a ‘virtual’ participant in its work.

Commenting, James said:

“President Obama was candid in his analysis of the threats posed by cyber attacks saying that the United States wasn’t as prepared as it should be.  Well if the US isn’t as prepared as it should be – then where does that leave this country?  And how better prepared will we need to be with the challenges of the 2012 Olympics looming ever larger?

“That is why we need a proper cyber-security strategy for this country.  That’s why we would appoint a dedicated minister with the responsibility for co-ordinating policy across government on cyber-crime, cyber-security and cyber prevention.”

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