Harvey's rationale for a policy of cyber-offense was that cyberspace was no different to any other field of combat, and imposed the same strategic demands.

"We need a toolbox of capabilities and that's what we are currently developing," said Harvey. "The circumstances and manner in which we would use them are broadly analogous to what we would do in any other domain." Cyberwar is, he said, "conflict without boundaries" and "action in cyberspace will form part of the future battlefield."

Development of offensive technologies is being carried out at the Cyber Security Operations Centre at Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham under the direction of the Government's Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence (MOD), he indicated.