Cyber Defence

A new force of "cyber reservists" will be recruited to boost Britain's online defences due to increasing fears of a crippling attack on national computer systems.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is set to bring in additional experts to support work protecting the country against the growing threat of cyber attack.

Details of the new cyber reserve force emerged in the first annual update of the Government's cyber security strategy and will be confirmed by ministers next year.

The MoD has already established a military Joint Cyber Unit based at GCHQ - the secret electronic communications spy agency - in Cheltenham.

The strategy document said it was now developing "new tactics, techniques and plans to deliver military capabilities to confront high-end threat".

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said: "There exist real and growing threats to our interests in cyberspace: these threats have increased concurrently with the growth of the 'internet economy'."

The move came as officials revealed "hostile foreign states and others" had mapped systems controlling critical infrastructure in the UK, such as power and water supplies.

The officials would not name the countries involved, although reports in the US have said Russia and China have carried out similar "reconnaissance" exercises there.

MI5 is now developing and enhancing its capabilities to investigate threats in cyberspace from foreign intelligence agencies and terrorists.

The document emphasised that cyber security was not a matter for government alone and that industry and individuals had to play their part.

A survey by consultants PwC found 93% of large corporations and 76% of small businesses suffered a cyber security breach over the past year, with costs running at up to £250,000 for larger firms.

From next spring, the Government will launch a series of public awareness drives aimed at improving online safety for consumers and small businesses.

A new "cyber confidence tracker" will regularly track "perceptions and behaviours" to ensure the message is being delivered as effectively as possible.

The Private sector is obviously paid 3 to 5 times more than working for the Government.
The GCHQ had noticed it was losing the best personnel who were leaving to go into the private sector.

A way of not losing them is to let them go into the private sector but keeping them on as reservists who come in every so often. This way the GCHQ keeps its best specialists.