The government is unsure of its outdated IT systems' vulnerability to cyber attacks.

In recent years, there have been numerous cyber attacks targeting various national institutions. Unfortunately, the government has faced difficulty in determining the level of vulnerability of its IT systems due to their outdated nature, according to a recent report.

The UK's public spending watchdog conducted an analysis and discovered that the threat of cyber attacks against the British government is severe and rapidly advancing. However, there are significant gaps in its ability to withstand such attacks. The report revealed that a staggering 228 IT systems used by government departments are considered "legacy," meaning they are old and outdated. This poses a higher risk of vulnerability as these systems are no longer updated or supported by their creators, lack skilled personnel to maintain them, and have known vulnerabilities.

The National Audit Office, responsible for evaluating the government's spending, aimed to assess the probability of a cyber attack similar to the one that targeted the British Library in 2023. In just six months, the ransomware attack cost the library £600,000, and its impact is still being felt today. The report highlighted the use of outdated IT systems by the library as a significant factor in the extent of damage caused by the hackers.

The report also stated that the cyber attack on the British Library is still not fully resolved. Between September 2023 and August 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre managed a total of 430 incidents, out of which 89 were deemed nationally significant. The NAO discovered that highly capable state and state-aligned actors, particularly from China, Russia, and Iran, are utilizing increasingly sophisticated methods to carry out malicious cyber activities.

One of the reasons for the slow progress in improving the government's IT defenses is a shortage of staff. Shockingly, one in three cyber security roles is either vacant or filled by temporary employees. The report found that departments struggle with recruitment processes and inadequate salaries, making it challenging to attract and retain skilled individuals.

The report also suggests that the government's digital infrastructure is suffering from aging, much like the Palace of Westminster itself. The government acknowledged that many of the issues raised in the report were also identified in the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology's recent review of the State of Digital Government. The department plans to introduce a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to parliament later this year, aiming to enhance the security of British society, including crucial infrastructure, against cyber attacks.

A government spokesperson stated that since July, they have taken significant steps to address the neglected state of their cyber defenses. This includes introducing new legislation to protect critical national infrastructure, implementing thirty regional cyber skills projects to strengthen the digital workforce, and consolidating digital teams into one central Government Digital Service, led by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. Furthermore, they recently announced plans to upgrade technology across all government departments, aiming to enhance their defenses against attacks and improve public services as part of their Plan for Change.

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