Why IT security services are more critical than ever for the public sector

While many public sector organisations leverage IT security services, cyber threats are evolving at breakneck speed.  

With the public sector a prime target for cyber-criminals due to its continuous flow of sensitive data, robust IT security is essential to keep vital services running uninterrupted. 

The UK Government Cyber Security Strategy reflects this urgent need, aiming to make all government organisations (both national and local) resilient to known threats by 2030, with critical functions significantly hardened against attacks by 2025. 

The challenge? There is a significant gap in cyber security skills within the public sector waiting to be exploited by attackers- even within the UK government. The National Audit Office highlighted that in 2023-2024:  

1/3 cyber security roles in government were vacant or filled by temporary staff  

More than 50% of cyber roles in several departments were vacant 

70% of specialist security architects in post were temporary staff 

Managed IT security services are critical in bridging these staffing and skills gaps and securing organisations against rapidly evolving cyber threats.  

The biggest cyber security threats faced by the public sector

The public sector most commonly combats:  

Ransomware 

This is a type of malware that blocks access to certain systems until a ransom is paid. An example of the detrimental impact of this is the 2024 ransomware attack on the pathology supplier Synnovis. This impacted hospitals in South East London and meant that nearly 400GB of sensitive data was stolen, plus leading to 1,693 elective procedures and 10,054 acute outpatient appointments being cancelled. 

Phishing 

Phishing is where a cyber-criminal sends out communications to individuals pretending to be a trusted and reputable company to trick people into revealing sensitive data or payment information. A phishing attack on Manchester, Salford, and Bolton councils resulted in thousands of housing applicants receiving a malicious email encouraging them to hand over sensitive data. 

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) 

When an attacker targets your website or network by overloading it to disrupt operations and disable it for users, it is considered to be a DDoS attack. In 2024, a DDoS attack targeted 9 UK local council websites, leading to the temporary disruption of vital online public services. Beyond operational impact, DDoS attacks can also result in reputational damage and financial losses due to prolonged downtime. 

Key IT security services for the public sector

To protect their sensitive data and critical operations against cyber criminals and attacks, public sector organisations- from local government to the NHS- should consider if they have covered these essential services: 

Managed Data Backups 

Regular data backups ensure your most important and sensitive information can be recovered in the event of a cyber-attack or system failure. For the public sector, managed data backup services automatically preserve your data without having to use any of your internal teams’ resources, therefore minimising downtime, and data loss. 

Air-Gapped and Immutable Storage 

This form of storage isolates your data from network access, protecting it from cyber threats attempting to access it. It also serves as a reliable recovery point for your backed up data.  

Managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) 

This provides 24/7 monitoring and analysis of security events, enabling the early detection of threats and rapid response. By handing this process over to a managed service provider, you overcome ‘alert fatigue’ within your internal teams and ensure all potential threats get investigated.  

Exposure Management 

Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing identify weaknesses within the IT infrastructure. This provides a clear roadmap to enhance security posture and prevent cyber-attacks and data breaches. 

Cyber Security Consultancy 

This means your organisation benefits from tailored guidance to enhance your defences. Cyber security consultants assess your current security measures, provide risk assessments, and develop strategies that deliver best-practices and bridge internal skills gaps. 

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) 

MDR services leverage advanced technologies such as AI and threat intelligence to detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time. This proactive approach means the impact of cyber security incidents is quickly mitigated. 

Incident Response Planning 

A structured incident response plan is critical in effectively managing and mitigating damage in the case of an attack. Roles must be established, communication protocols set in place, and robust security procedures established. Our 24/7 incident response service is always on hand to provide support and guidance when you need it most. 

IT security in the public sector is critical to business continuity and protecting the infrastructure that this country desperately relies on. The need for public sector organisations to adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to IT security is more prominent now than ever. Protect your systems and sensitive data now by implementing the strategies listed above.  

At Celerity, we specialise in providing IT security services tailored to the public sector and its unique demands. Of course, our main priority is safeguarding your data, networks, and systems; however, we also work to your wider objectives, including increasing the productivity of internal teams, streamlining workflows, and reducing costs. Check out our full suite of services here.