UK planning 'Cyber Reserve' defence force

The UK government is to set up a "Cyber Reserve" force to deal with security threats posed by computer crime.

Run by the Ministry of Defence, it will allow the armed forces to "draw on the wider talent and skills of the nation in the cyber field".

Internet-related business is estimated to be worth £82bn a year to the UK.

Minister Francis Maude said help was needed with "critical" work in combating online crime. The scheme's details will be unveiled next year.

Terrorists, fraudsters, rogue states and individual activists are among the criminals targeting computer systems in the UK.

In a written statement Mr Maude said 93% of large corporations and 76% of small businesses had reported a cyber breach in the past year.

He promised efforts to make the UK "one of the most secure places in the world to do business in cyber space" as he gave a first year update on the UK's Cyber Security Strategy.

He said the coalition government was looking to "move towards the establishment of a UK National CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team)", to act as a "focus point for international sharing of technical information".

Mr Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, also said: "Working with the private sector to improve awareness of the need for better cyber security continues to be a priority. We are now focusing our efforts on making sure that the right incentives and structures are in place to change behaviour in a sustainable way.

"Government departments and agencies are working with professional and representative bodies to ensure the consideration of cyber security becomes an integral part of corporate governance and risk-management processes."

The government also wants to train more students with "cutting-edge" skills at tackling online crime. A degree course module on the subject is being piloted at De Montfort University, the University of Worcester and Queens University Belfast.

Mr Maude said: "We are constantly examining new ways to harness and attract the talents of the cyber security specialists that are needed for critical areas of work. To this end, the MoD is taking forward the development of a 'Cyber Reserve', allowing the services to draw on the wider talent and skills of the nation in the cyber field.

"The exact composition is currently in development and a detailed announcement will follow in 2013."