The public sector is a target for threat actors with a wide range of motivations. It encompasses many highly dispersed organisations with ageing technology, extensive supply chains, and agencies that hold vast amounts of sensitive data.
The Critical Role of Cyber Security in Government
The UK Government is a target for a wide array of threat actors – from nation-state groups with political-motivations to cyber criminals seeking a payday. Given their vital role in maintaining and promoting our economy and society, it is vital to ensure the public sector is resilient to these threats. However, with a significant attack surface, extensive supply chain, and hundreds of highly-dispersed organisations, securing this sector remains a challenge.
45% of government organisations ranked data protection and privacy as one of their top challenges.
Government organisations experienced an average of 16 ransomware attacks (per survey respondent).
Addressing Government Organisation's Unique Cyber Security Challenges
Lack of Resource/ Skills Gap
The public sector has a significant task in increasing their cyber resilience, yet has little resource and fewer cyber security experts to do so. This skills gap extends beyond technical expertise and into professional functions that require cyber security knowledge.
Volume of Attacks
Our 2024 research found that survey respondents in government organisations experienced an average of six ransomware attacks, seven incidents of data theft or misuse, and four nation-state or terrorist threats in a 12 month period.
Extensive Supply Chain
The public sector depends on a large and diverse supply chain covering government departments, arms-length bodies, agencies and local authorities, making it difficult to balance cyber risk within supplier contracts with other requirements.
Our Award Winning Cyber Security Services for Government
We’ve delivered cyber security services to a range of both central and local government departments, helping them increase cyber resilience and defend against threats.
Download the 2024 Cyber Security in Central Government Report
What are the Cyber Threats Faced by Central Government Organisations in 2024?
Nation-state Threats
The UK was the fifth most targeted nation this year by nation-state affiliated threat actors, according to Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report. These attackers bring a high level of expertise and resource, dedicating themselves to espionage, influence or disruption operations.
Cyber Criminal Groups
Perhaps the biggest threat posed by these groups to the public sector is ransomware attacks. As highlighted by the successful ransomware attacks against Redcar & Cleveland and Hackney councils, these attacks cause significant disruption to public services and are costly to remediate.
Cyber Resilience
The Government’s Cyber Security Strategy highlights “a significant gap between where government cyber resilience is now and where it needs to be”. This underlines the many challenges government bodies have faced in meeting cyber security standards.
Digitalisation
As the government relies on a great number of digital services, they face a greater challenge in securing their digital products and services as well as the data they process.
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