Government Departments: Data Security

Question

Asked by

Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many electronic attacks on Government computer systems and networks have occurred in each year for which figures are available. [HL1931]

Lord Patel of Bradford
It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems and networks. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.