The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a contract extension for cyber security services from BT Global Services.
The seven-year contract builds extra capabilities on top of an existing commercial off the shelf-based cyber defence solution that BT provides to protect the MoD's global IT estate, called eCND (enhanced computer network defence). The system also has an incident archive to enable the MoD to learn from previous events.
As well as helping the MoD detect and block attempts at hacking its systems, through monitoring, BT will now deliver a service that is designed to "deter, react to and recover from" cyber attacks.
The MoD said it has detected and blocked more than 1,000 potentially serious cyber attacks on its IT systems in 2010.
Air Commodore Tim Bishop, head of service operations at the MoD, said: "Over the last five years we've seen a significant rise in the number of threats to the UK's national security through cyberspace, so it is crucial that we look to constantly improve our defence mechanisms to meet those threats."
Although the contract value has not been disclosed, BT claims that it delivers improved financial and operational efficiencies.
The MoD also holds a £640 million contract for Defence Fixed Telecommunications Services (DFTS) with BT, which was extended to 2015 back in 2010.