Surge in Cyberattacks Poses National Security Risk
The United Kingdom is increasingly vulnerable to state-backed cyberattacks, with experts warning that the country is unprepared to defend its critical infrastructure. A rise in global geopolitical instability has led to a surge in sophisticated cyber threats, targeting both public institutions and private enterprises. While the United States has committed to strengthening its public infrastructure against such risks, concerns are growing over the UK’s ability to do the same.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported a 16% increase in severe cyber incidents affecting national security in 2024. According to its annual report published on December 3, the UK’s cyber risks are being significantly underestimated. The NCSC’s Incident Management team handled 430 cases out of the 1,957 cyber-related reports it received last year. Of these, 89 incidents were classified as nationally significant, including 12 critical breaches—a threefold increase compared to the previous year.
NCSC CEO Richard Horne highlighted the growing gap between cyber threats and the UK’s preparedness to counter them. “What has struck me more forcefully than anything else since taking the helm at the NCSC is the clearly widening gap between the exposure and threat we face and the defenses that are in place to protect us,” Horne stated, emphasizing the urgent need for action to counter these threats effectively.
UK’s state-backed cyberattacks Cybersecurity Gaps and Legacy IT Systems
Recent research by cybersecurity firm Trend Micro revealed significant weaknesses in the UK’s public sector defenses. A survey of 250 IT leaders within the public sector found that 64% were uncertain about best cybersecurity practices, and 24% believed this lack of clarity could directly lead to security breaches.
Professor Dan Hyde, a legal expert at Keystone Law, warned that the UK remains highly vulnerable to state-sponsored cyberattacks. “There are serious cyber resilience gaps in at least 58 critical government IT systems, as well as numerous ‘legacy’ IT systems that are vulnerable,” Hyde explained. He added that these outdated systems create a tangled web of risks across multiple government departments, with their full extent remaining unknown.
A recent report by the UK’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) further highlighted these concerns, revealing that nearly one-third of central government IT systems are classified as “legacy.” As cyber threats continue to evolve, experts stress that the State-Backed Cyberattacks must take decisive steps to modernize its defenses and protect national infrastructure from potential large-scale disruptions.
Growing Cyber Skills Shortage and Calls for Action
A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) in January 2024 identified a severe skills shortage as one of the most significant barriers to improving the UK’s cybersecurity resilience. The report found that one in three government cybersecurity roles remained unfilled or were occupied by temporary staff during the 2023-24 period.
The UK government had previously set a goal of becoming “significantly hardened to cyberattacks by 2025.” However, the NAO stated that progress has been slow, and without urgent action, the country remains highly exposed to potential cyber threats. The report called on the government to create and implement workforce development plans by the end of the year to bridge the skills gap.
Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump recently signed an Executive Order aimed at enhancing public infrastructure resilience against cyber threats and natural disasters. However, the Trump administration has also made significant cuts to federal funding for cybersecurity initiatives, leading experts to question the long-term effectiveness of these measures.
Anna Collard, a senior executive at cybersecurity firm KnowBe4, emphasized the need for the UK to prioritize cybersecurity investment, public-private partnerships, and workforce development. “For the UK to remain resilient, it must prioritize cyber resilience with strategic investment, public-private collaboration, and skills development forming the backbone of its national cyber defense,” Collard stated.
With state-backed cyberattacks & cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, experts warn that without urgent reforms, the UK could face major security breaches that compromise both public and private sector infrastructure.
