National cyber emergency unit to finally launch

The government will launch its emergency response force for cyber-crime at the end of this month after a number of obstacles had forced it to  postpone, according to The Guardian.

The UK Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UK) will get to work on the development of the UK’s response to criminal and state-sponsored attacks on vital systems, which include those that control the country’s energy supply, as well as those within governmental departments, says the Cabinet Office.

The unveiling, which the Cabinet Office believes to be an important step in the evolution of our cyber security infrastructure, will undergo its initial phase in a scheme that will be incrementally rolled out.

The government originally announced CERT in late 2012 when a promise was made by the Cabinet Office to implement a crucial cyber strategy within a year.

However, it was forced to admit that the initiative would have to be postponed until early this year, with a number of reasons offered, aside from the division needing a headquarters, improved technology and added personnel. They were provided in due course and a new director was put in place; Chris Gibson, previously a member of the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams.

The new strategy will need even more personnel over time as it begins to roll out. The Cabinet Office will undoubtedly seek the cream of the crop so will be filling any information security vacancies with caution, offering good news for those with the highest of skills.