State and local governments are under cyber siege. In this episode, we break down how and why these public institutions have become top targets for attackers — and why the threats are getting worse.
Digitization is expanding public access to services, but it’s also opening new doors for threat actors. Many local authorities still rely on legacy IT systems, outdated operating systems, and unsupported software — leaving them vulnerable to ransomware, phishing, impersonation, and supply chain exploits. The rise in attacks isn’t hypothetical: cyber data breaches in UK local councils have surged by nearly 400% in just three years.
We examine key reasons for the surge:
🔸 Outdated infrastructure and tight budgets
🔸 Rampant phishing and email impersonation
🔸 Ransomware that paralyzes city services and steals citizen data
🔸 Weak oversight of third-party vendors and digital service providers
🔸 A lack of board-level responsibility and incident response planning
The consequences aren’t just operational. Citizens are losing jobs, facing housing instability, and experiencing long-term harm due to the exposure of sensitive personal data. In the case of Oxford City Council, 21 years of historical data were compromised — impacting both current and former council employees. Although no large-scale data extraction has been confirmed, investigations are ongoing.
Across the UK, councils have reported more than 12,700 breaches in three years, with over £260,000 paid in legal claims and compensation. High-profile incidents, such as the Capita breach and the Metropolitan Police supplier compromise, highlight a growing trend: third-party vendors are becoming major points of failure.
We also discuss the lack of proactive cybersecurity measures. Most public bodies don’t regularly assess supply chain risks or re-evaluate vendor contracts. In many cases, cybersecurity is still not a board-level priority, especially for smaller agencies operating with limited resources.
This episode explores what needs to change — from upgrading legacy systems to enforcing third-party risk management and creating a culture of privacy and accountability. Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue anymore. It’s public safety, trust, and governance at stake.
#CyberSecurity #DataBreach #PublicSectorSecurity #Ransomware #OxfordDataBreach #CapitaBreach #LocalGovernment #InfoSec #DigitalTrust #PrivacyMatters #CyberAttack #SupplyChainRisk
