The cyber threats facing the UK are becoming increasing severe and gaps have been identified in the government’s defence infrastructure, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
It found that 58 critical government IT systems assessed last year had “significant gaps in cyber resilience”, while a further 228 ‘legacy’ IT systems could also be vulnerable.
If successful, cyber attacks can have devastating effects on government organisations and public services, and the citizens who rely on them. In June 2024, a cyber attack on a supplier of pathology services to the NHS in south-east London led to two NHS foundation trusts postponing 10,152 acute outpatient appointments and 1,710 elective procedures.
Meanwhile, the British Library, which experienced a cyber attack in October 2023, has been forced to spend £600,000 rebuilding its services, with further expenditure required as it continues its recovery work.
Despite a strategy put in place a decade ago to ensure that key government organisations...