To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to protect the United Kingdom from (a) a cyber-terrorist attack, and (b) cyber crime; and [HL2574]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to protect (a) public utilities companies, (b) banks, (c) the retail sector, and (d) Government departments, from cyber attacks. [HL2575]

Her Majesty’s Government have a wide ranging set of measures in place to protect the United Kingdom from all forms of electronic attack including cyber-terrorism and cyber crime.

These measures include:

CPNI: Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, provides advice on electronic or cyber protective security measures to the businesses and organisations that comprise the UK's critical national infrastructure, including public utilities companies and banks.

CESG: part of GCHQ, provides government departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack. It runs the Computer Emergency Response Team, GovCertUK, which provides warnings, alerts and assistance in resolving serious IT incidents for the public sector.

All government departments have access to the Government Secure Intranet (GSi), which securely connects around 200 government departments and agencies.

The Government’s Data Handling Review, published in June 2008, mandated a number of minimum data security measures for HMG such as penetration testing of government IT systems.

Strengthening the Computer Misuse Act to reflect the seriousness of offences and updating legislation to take account of technological advances.

Establishing three units that tackle crime on the internet: the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP); SOCA, deals with organised e-crime affecting the private and public sectors; and the recently set-up Police Central e-crime Unit.

Sponsoring Get Safe Online, a joint public and private sector initiative to raise awareness of internet safety among the general public and small businesses

The Cabinet Office is currently leading a cross-departmental project to develop the UK’s approach to cyber security, including ways to improve the security of key systems.