Cyber Security in the Public Sector
Why is the public sector such an attractive target for threat actors? It’s partly due to the vulnerability caused by outdated and legacy systems, but more than that, it’s the lure of public sector data. Cyber criminals are looking to exploit a treasure trove of personal data for identity theft, financial fraud, account takeovers, or to create spear phishing emails and social engineering attacks that lead to ransomware.
Strengthening our country’s cyber defences is vital if we are to guard our citizens personal information, and protect the functions and services on which we all depend. As a nation we have made great progress, ranking fifth in The Global Cybersecurity Index, but there is much more to do.
This paper looks in more detail at the Government Cyber Security Strategy, and more specifically the underpinning National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Assessment Framework. We consider where organisations may face challenges and suggest how these could be overcome.
