Battle lines have been drawn in the war to protect the Isle of Man from cyber attacks.

The government has launched a cyber security strategy which aims to protect the island’s entire digital infrastructure.

Speaking from the new hi-tech nerve centre for the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance - where cyber attacks from around the globe are tracked on large screens - Richard Wild, head of Government Technology Services, said a key aim was to make people aware of the risks.

That means understanding everything from what information you are giving out on social media and how it might be used, to why your passwords should be updated on a regular basis - as well as realising cyber attacks do not belong solely to conspiracy theories.

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, the Cabinet Office member tasked with ensuring cyber security, said it was crucial the Isle of Man was ready.

’It is not even if, it is when the Isle of Man is attacked,’ he warned.

’All the best systems in the world cannot prevent some sort of future attack.’

The government wants to ensure any such attack fails to achieve its desired effect and that businesses, the public sector and day-to-day life are not crippled as a result.

The strategy is designed to ensure a secure online environment, for businesses, residents and the public sector. It will operate alongside international efforts aimed at combating cyber-attacks, including the UK’s cyber-resilience initiatives and international efforts to protect against a range attacks.

It lists the main threats:

Cyber criminals.

’Hacktivists’ seeking to damage or disrupt an organisation.

Nation states collecting strategic information.

’Script kiddies’ who seek out system flaws.

Cyber espionage.

’The Isle of Man is not impervious to cyber-attack or the threats that are prevalent around the globe,’ the strategy warns.

’These cyber threats can be delivered by a range of attackers from any location, any time zone.

’Their intent may be to disrupt, destroy, deny services and/or extort money.’

The Cambridge Analytica scandal, a cyber attack on the NHS and the WannaCry ransomware attack on computers using Microsoft Windows are all cited as recent examples of the need for a solid strategy in place.

One of the principal aims of the strategy is to ensure that key services, such as hospitals and the emergency services, are as resilient to attack as possible.

Infrastructure

Mr Wild, who is also the head of OCSIA, said: ’Nobody is underestimating the importance of maintaining the security of our online networks and our critical national infrastructure, including water and power supplies, hospital systems and the transport network across the island.

’The OCSIA team will be working closely with all public authorities, and the wider community, to make sure that the strategy is kept at the forefront of everything we do.’

The strategy outlines a plan of action that will include including upgraded business continuity and emergency planning exercises, laws being updated, the sharing of ’best practice’ with UK and other cyber security networks, and an education programme.

A copy of the cyber security strategy can be downloaded from gov.im