The UK Needs To Reevaluate Its Cybersecurity Strategy

Uploaded on 2024-10-21 in TECHNOLOGY--Resilience, GOVERNMENT-National, FREE TO VIEW

Following the recent change in Government, the Labour Party is facing significant challenges in shaping the future of the UK. One less publicised area which requires the Labour Party’s immediate attention is the UK’s cybersecurity strategy.

With “The Cyber Security Breaches Survey” revealing that over 50% of UK businesses experienced a cyber breach or attack in the past year - it is clear that the UK’s evolving threat landscape is something that can no longer be ignored.

The Labour Government’s campaign was centred around promises of transformation following 14 years of Conservative leadership, with the party acknowledging the growing risks of cyberattacks in its manifesto. With technologies such as AI allowing cybercriminals to launch more advanced attacks, at a greater scale and with ease - this threat will only continue to increase.

So what actions should both the Government and the private sector be taking to safeguard the UK’s digital landscape once and for all?

Digital Transformation: the driving force behind modernising the UK’s cybersecurity

One of the most common vulnerabilities across all industries is a reliance on legacy systems. Despite research revealing that a cyber attack occurs every 44 seconds, more than two-thirds of UK businesses still use legacy technology to run core operations, and over 60% of customer-facing applications also rely on these outdated technologies.

Legacy systems are especially vulnerable as they were not designed with today’s cybersecurity landscape in mind. They were initially developed when cyber threats were much less sophisticated, which means they do not meet the requirements to counter today’s tech-savvy attacks. What is even more concerning is that many of these systems still run on outdated operating platforms, meaning that they no longer receive critical patches and security updates that prevent them from being easily exploited by cybercriminals.

With AI allowing threat actors to launch more sophisticated attacks than ever before, it is crucial for businesses to recognise the importance of transitioning away from legacy systems. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, this transition is no longer a “nice to have”, it is a necessity.

Another element of building cyber resilience that is often overlooked is a continued reliance on traditional postal communications. As businesses continue to transform their customer comms, they should look to replace traditional postal services with secure, digital alternatives. This is especially pertinent after the release of the latest data from Ofcom’s Residential Postal Tracker, revealing that 54% of consumers prefer not to receive post from any organisation and 70% prefer email communications over postal communications. By leveraging the encryption and authentication technologies associated with secure comms solutions, businesses can ensure that data is protected across its entire journey to enhance overall security. Not only this, but digital delivery is much faster, cheaper and more reliable than traditional postal communications, which are increasingly being exploited by fraudsters.

The Importance Of Legislative Action

As the Autumn Budget continues to draw nearer and the Labour Government begins to decide its priorities - bolstering the UK’s cybersecurity must be at the forefront of policy decisions. The Labour Government should look to introduce legislation which mandates the transition from legacy systems to modern, more secure alternatives. As both the public and private sectors continue to rely on legacy technologies and leave themselves vulnerable to attacks - a strong legislative framework is the key to compelling organisations to regularly upgrade their infrastructure. This will help to ensure they will stay afloat during the growing cybercrime wave.

Cybersecurity must also be viewed as a national security issue. Just as the Government invests in the military to protect against physical threats, the same attention and resources should be directed towards safeguarding the nation from hidden, digital dangers. With recent cyber incidents, such as the NHS cyber attack earlier this year, demonstrating that cyber attacks can have far-reaching consequences - cybersecurity should now be considered a key requirement for protecting the UK’s infrastructure.

Raising Awareness To Empower Individuals & Businesses Alike

As cyber threats continue to proliferate and evolve, public education is essential in helping to mitigate this risk. The Government must lead efforts to increase awareness and provide resources to help consumers and businesses stay protected. A strong national focus on cyber hygiene is key, and it must begin by educating those who are least familiar with digital risks. By empowering the public, the Government will be able to foster a culture of cyber resilience and readiness across the nation.

It is time for the Labour Government to showcase its commitment to driving meaningful change and introduce the measures required to safeguard businesses, consumers and their data.

By giving statutory underpinning to the retirement of vulnerable legacy technology, prioritising the use of secure digital communications and increasing education efforts - the UK can fortify its defences against evolving cyber threats once and for all. Only through these decisive actions can we ensure a safer digital future.

Paul Holland is CEO of Beyond Encryption

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