UK government to improve computer security

The British government is to shore up the defences of its computer network against hackers and virus writers, employing specialist security firm CenturyCom to oversee the implementation of the new Government Secure Intranet (GSI).

This follows calls from the Prime Minister for more government business and communication to be conducted electronically. A government spokesman said that the increased threat from technology enabled miscreants is the main reason for intensifying security. "The health checks address the threat from hackers and virus writers by testing her majesty's government systems to ensure that potential vulnerabilities are identified and countered."

Clive McCafferty, managing director of CenturyCom outlined just what the deal means to his company saying, "From my experience working in government security, I know how tough it is to win trust from Government organisations, so I'm very pleased to gain this endorsement."

CenturyCom's services will form part of the government's recently launched CHECK service designed to periodically test the infrastructure of its computer networks. CHECK is carried out cooperatively between the Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG) and the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA).

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