The Coronavirus pandemic has exposed vulnerable gaps in cyber security across public sector organisations in the UK.
To gain an insight into the severity of these threats, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) stated they have detected more UK government branded scams relating to COVID-19 than any other subject.
This trend is illuminating and worrying. More than anything else, however, it signifies one clear action: Public sector organisations need to address vulnerabilities in security without delay. As experts in secure cloud-based services with UK-residing data, Primenet are well placed to help.
The launch of our latest whitepaper, fittingly titled ‘Making Cyber Security a Priority’, comprehensively outlines how public sector organisations can mitigate security risks and prevent data leaks in the backdrop of remote working.
Here’s 5 topics we cover, relevant to the current complex landscape:
The risks of remote working (Page 4-5)
Almost overnight, civil servants and government data were geographically dispersed. Suddenly, more devices, cloud and online services were connected to less secure home wi-fi networks, using home machines with insufficient anti-virus software. What impact has this had on data breaches? Read more on page 5.
The impact of human error (Page 6)
Human error is the leading cause of reported data beaches. Mostly they are unintentional staff errors and taking even the smallest steps to reduce them can make all the difference. What is the first step to strengthening security protocols? Educating workforces about cyber security.
The Threat of Ransomware (page 7 - 11)
We all remember the WannaCry ransomware attack, which targeted 30,000 devices spanning 150 countries and caused catastrophic disruption to global organisations, including the NHS. Behind the scenes, malware attacks are increasing. Government organisations are key targets. Find out how to respond to malware threats.
Data Wiping for Every Device (page 12 – 13)
To remove data safely, it is not enough to reformat drives or reset devices to factory settings. Instead, devices must be completely wiped and reinstalled to make sure that confidential data is secure. This is the case for all vulnerable devices - laptops, mobiles and even other overlooked IT assets, like printers. Learn more about this process.
Cyber security incidents in Government (page 14 – 15)
Cyber security breaches have run rife across central and local Government, but they aren’t the only ones. From healthcare & the NHS, to education and housing, to charities and the blue light sector, the public sector has been impacted at every angle. How can we work collectively to stop this happening and protect our data and vital services?
Responding to COVID-19 has been the largest single challenge that government have faced in decades.
By addressing your areas of risk and tightening security procedures, not only are staff in remote workforces becoming more informed on how to prevent public sector data breaches, you are helping to stop the spread of cybercriminal activity as a whole.
Your government organisation’s data security is worth protecting – start now with the guidance in our whitepaper resource.
