To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent estimate he has made of the cost to business of (a) internet fraud and (b) malicious computer security breaches. (193806)

BERR does not collect information in this way. The Department works with business to produce a biennial Information Security Breaches Survey. The Survey is intended to raise awareness of the importance of effective information security management. The Surveys do not set out to survey or measure the costs of internet fraud or malicious computer security breaches but to research the costs of all information security breaches. Based on information gathered for the 2006 Survey, the figures indicated that serious security incidents cost on average between £8,000 and £17,000 per incident in 2005.

Work is almost complete on the 2008 Information Security Breaches Survey and the results will be announced at Infosecurity Europe on 22 April. The Survey will present up to date information on the costs of information security breaches.