GOVERNMENT is taking all "reasonable and effective measures" to counter cyber threats.
That's according to Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK who has said government's computer systems are constantly assessed and audited.
Mr Shimmin was responding to a question in the House of Keys on Tuesday (February 7) from Onchan MHK Zac Hall.
Mr Hall wanted to know what strategy there was to counter cyber threats against data held by the Isle of Man Government, and development operations, and against the Island's economic organisations.
The Economic Development Minister said he had taken advice from experts in the private sector in order to answer the question and explained that cyber threats take a number of forms including hacking, phishing, malware and social engineering.
Mr Shimmin said different methods are needed to counter particular threats but said it was "incumbent" on commercial organisations to "implement adequate safeguards to defend against cyber threats".
He said: "The level of threat will differ according to sector – for example eGaming and financial services will face significant cyber threats and the measures that they put in place to mitigate risk will be significantly different to those required for a small trading site."
Referring to the Isle of Man Government Mr Shimmin said it operated a "multi-layered defence system" to mitigate the risks posed by external and internal threats to the network.
He said there were "defences" at the borders between the internet, departments and data centres and that traffic flow was monitored for risks, assessed and where appropriate access is denied.
The Information Services Division of government has also adopted international standards to combat cyber threats including those of the National Policing Improvement Agency.
Mr Shimmin added: "Government computer systems are constantly assessed and are subject to regular internal and external audit and to periodic system penetration tests.
"While no system can provide absolute security these accreditations demonstrate that the government is taking all reasonable and effective measures to mitigate risks."
In a supplementary question Mr Hall asked the Economic Development Minister to explain what co-ordinated measures are in place, led by government, if there is an attack on "critical systems of private enterprise".
Mr Shimmin, who said he felt Mr Hall was portraying the issue as "some sort of scandal on the Island" said: "People who are well skilled, both in the private sector and public sector to deal with this matter, are well aware of the dangers and the risks and I do find it a little disappointing that the Honourable Member is attempting to raise issues as if they are news to government."
Mr Hall told the House of Keys that he believed the Isle of Man needed a cyber strategy like the UK "as a matter of priority".
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:
