Cyber security within government organisations is fundamental to national resilience. The public sector handles vast amounts of highly sensitive information, ranging from personal data to classified intelligence, making it a prime target for cyber threats.
Effectively managing cyber risks thus requires a socio-technical approach considering the people and processes, as well as the technology used. Furthermore, it calls for a structured and proactive approach to cyber security.
Government departments face distinctive and often complex cyber security challenges. Public sector organisations operate under tight budget constraints (as increasingly seen in recent months), adhere to rigorous procurement rules and need to balance robust security measures with the need for public accessibility. While it is impractical to eliminate cyber risks entirely, implementing a comprehensive strategic approach can ensure that the totality of the risk is understood. This enables the organisation to robustly conduct appropriate risk management activity allowing them to plan to ensure operational continuity even under adverse conditions.
Understanding Public Sector Cyber Risks
The public sector confronts diverse and evolving threats on a continual basis, from sophisticated state-sponsored cyber-attacks and ransomware to vulnerabilities within supply chains.
Driven by advances in technology, the adoption of hybrid working arrangements and cloud-based systems has been a pivotal moment for many organisations, unlocking improvements in efficiencies and flexibility. For all of the productivity gains, however, this has simultaneously added a new layer of complexity; broadening the potential attack surface of these organisations to the increasing and evolving cyber threat.
Many governmental departments continue to rely on legacy IT systems designed long before the proliferation of modern cyber threats. These outdated systems, often now out of support from their vendors, typically lack sufficient defences against sophisticated cyber threats. Although upgrading these legacy systems is costly and logistically challenging, such digital transformation is crucial to protect essential public services.
What’s more, the interconnected nature of governmental networks increasing the attack surface presenting additional risk. A single breach within one department could spread to other departments, causing widespread disruption. Hence, digital transformation efforts should not solely focus on modernisation but prioritise building robust and resilient infrastructures capable of countering present and future threats effectively.
The security of supply chains further complicates cyber risk management. Government departments depend heavily on third-party vendors for software solutions, IT services, data management and other professional or specialised services. If a supplier or contractor becomes compromised, the integrity of governmental operations can be severely impacted. Therefore, effective vendor management and robust oversight are vital components of comprehensive risk management strategies and have unquestionably impacted the direction of the recently announced Cyber Security Model Version 4 (CSMv4).
Navigating regulatory compliance adds further complexity. Public sector organisations must comply with stringent frameworks such as the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF), NIS Regulations and Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP). However, simply meeting these compliance standards does not inherently guarantee security. Genuine protection comes from proactive and continuous risk management practices that go beyond the minimum regulatory requirements.
Building an Effective Risk Management Strategy
Proactive risk management involves framing security in the context of the organisation. This includes understanding the risk appetite, understanding the associated impact of core business functions, anticipating threats, systematically assessing vulnerabilities and implementing preventative actions. Central to this approach is comprehensive risk assessment: identifying critical assets, recognising vulnerabilities and analysing threat scenarios. This assessment should include both technical threats and human factors, such as phishing attacks or insider threats, offering a holistic understanding of an organisation’s risk profile.
Upon identifying risks, prioritisation is essential. Threats vary in frequency, impact and complexity; resources must be strategically allocated. High-impact threats, such as nation-state espionage, demand robust defensive measures aligned with organisational risk appetite and allocated to both budget and resource.
A layered security approach further enhances protection. Strong authentication protocols, rigorous access management, network segmentation, real-time threat detection and automated incident response capabilities collectively form robust defences. Regular security assessments, including penetration testing and red team exercises, ensure vulnerabilities are identified which allow for plans to be developed for remediation.
However, technology alone does not define effective cyber security. Cyber security is a socio-technical challenge, that it is people and processes, not just technology, that we should be concerned with. Governance, clear accountability and a proactive organisational culture significantly contribute to security effectiveness as has been outlined and emphasised in the MOD’s Secure by Design initiative. Clearly defined communication channels, detailed incident response plans and continuous staff training help embed cyber security into daily operations. Providing decision-makers with prompt, accurate intelligence enables informed decisions, balancing effective risk reduction with financial and operational realities.
Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation
Effective risk management requires continual vigilance. Cyber threats are evolving like never before and thus ongoing real-time monitoring, automated threat intelligence and regular security audits are indispensable. Well-prepared incident response plans, supported by regular rehearsals and secure data backups, minimise operational damage during breaches.
Collaboration is also crucial. Sharing intelligence, best practices and lessons learned among government departments and critical infrastructure providers enhances collective resilience. Resources provided by agencies such as the NCSC become significantly more impactful when actively utilised through interdepartmental cooperation.
Balancing Compliance with Proactive Security
Ultimately, the most effective cyber risk management strategies strike a careful balance between regulatory compliance and proactive security measures. Simply meeting compliance obligations can create a false sense of security. Genuine resilience arises when organisations embed proactive, adaptive security measures within their operational cultures.
By developing and evolving a risk-aware culture, making cyber security everyone’s responsibility, public sector organisations can significantly strengthen their resilience, safeguarding essential public services and maintaining public trust.
Logiq provides specialist solutions and expert cyber risk management guidance that align robust security practices with real-world challenges. Contact us to enhance your cyber resilience.
About Logiq:
Logiq is a NCSC-assured cyber security consultancy and secure managed services provider focused on safeguarding critical organisational data. Our clients are amongst the most demanding in the world and have some of the most stringent and complex security needs. We help to design and develop innovative solutions that enable them to focus on delivering their business securely.
