Access to industry expertise to respond effectively to the consequences of cyber security attacks has been launched by the Communications-Electronics Security Group or CESG, a division of the UK's GCHQ.



The Cyber Incident Response scheme provides a list of government assured, certified providers of response and clean up services in the event of a cyber-attack.



This approach will enable organisations to source an appropriate incident response service tailored to their particular needs and allow GCHQ to focus on the most challenging attacks.



Chloë Smith, the Government Minister for Cyber Security in the UK said: “We know that UK organisations are confronted with cyber threats that are growing in number and sophistication.  The best defence for organisations is to have processes and measures in place to prevent attacks getting through, but we also have to recognise that there will be times when attacks do penetrate our systems and organisations want to know who they can reliably turn to for help.



I am delighted to announce a unique Government-Industry partnership to tackle the effects of cyber incidents.  This scheme and others like it, together with the ‘10 Steps to Cyber Security’ guidance for business launched last year, are an important part of our effort to provide assistance to industry and government in order to protect UK interests in cyberspace".



Responding to the launch of the scheme, Dr Jarno Limnell, Director of Cyber Security for Stonesoft commented: "Cyber crime and defence are complex themes to legislate, but with business success reliant on digital processes, and with the UK economy still in a state of recovery, a successfully launched cyber attack could not only potentially knock back confidence in UK business, but also push economic growth off track.



From a grassroots business level, IT departments should be working with employees to ensure that they understand the pitfalls of bad cyber-practice, but when a successful attack does occur it’s encouraging to see a framework in place to equip organisations with the tools to respond and remedy the aftermath. However, due to the nature of the internet and modern business, cyber crime doesn’t adhere to national boundaries. Other nations should look to the UK as an example of best practise for governmental-business cooperation, and this is the perfect opportunity for the UK  to take the lead among European nations in building defence capabilities".