New Zealand cyber-security may soon be tougher to crack with the launch of a new alert system.

The system, called Red Alert, has been launched by Auckland's UNITEC and Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

Ideologue Magazine reports it has been designed to help protect computer networks by detecting attacks, notifying victims and offering a list of experts who can help.

It is to be made available free of charge for selected not-for-profit organisations before it is released more widely in 2016.