A British cyber security firm released its cloud-based protection products here yesterday.

The products from a unit of BAE Systems aim to defend against cyber threats, with a focus on e-mails. They include e-mail encryption and archiving and e-mail data loss prevention.

Mr Richard Dobrow, director of cyber security and products at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, said that "95 per cent of cyber attacks start with an e-mail".

He added that "more needs to be done to protect companies and individuals against outside and internal threats that can happen in cyberspace".

Spending by businesses on information technology (IT) products and services here will reach US$19.1 billion (S$27 billion) this year, estimates Gartner, an IT research and advisory company.

"As Singapore moves towards its Smart Nation goal, a focus on cyber security is arguably the best defence companies can employ against the current wave of attacks on their critical assets," said Mr Nick Turnbull, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence's director of cyber security in Asia.

"Not only can cloud-based services be delivered within short time scales - dealing with threats almost immediately - but also, companies will also have the ability to scale their security up or down, as required, making them more agile in their response."