An alliance has been formed between the Information Assurance Advisory Council (IAAC) and the Institute for Communications Arbitration and Forensics (ICAF) to promote improved understanding of cyber-security.

The move comes after research, conducted by ICAF and the Communications Management Association, into how fit UK plc was to fight cyber-attacks, found some "disturbing" results.

"Since the events of 11 September and their aftermath, the need for improved security of information and the means by which it is delivered has moved to a new level of significance," said Professor Graham Robinson, chief executive of ICAF.

The alliance explained that the UK is in poor shape to fight cyber-attack, whether from inside or outside the organisation or across private and public sectors, in terms of the extent of the threat present when contrasted with the serious and widespread lack of corporate priority, investment and skilled resources.

Dr Andrew Rathmell, chief executive of IAAC, said the alliance would be working with security, legal, academic and other professionals to ensure that best practice in information assurance is widely disseminated.

He said the partnership's programme of activity includes measures to promote security awareness and education both in the industry and amongst security practitioners. It also aims to educate UK policy-makers to understand the future needs of the 'Information Society'.

Both IAAC and ICAF hope that the new alliance will underline a recognition of the growing importance of information assurance to the networked information and communications sector.

The partnership will be dedicated to "ensuring that the information infrastructure, on which UK organisations and citizens are increasingly reliant, is secure against threat from terrorist attack, criminal violation and internal abuse".