Why UK government organisations are a key target for cyberattacks

From itproportal.com

The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 highlighted the systemic vulnerability of the UK’s government organisations: their networks are open, and their email security protocols are outdated and inconsistent. Two years on, they remain a soft target for cybercriminals looking to extort quick profits and nation state hackers seeking to gain an advantage in the ever-intensifying global cyberwar. 

Not only are these organisations soft targets, they are also of high value to cybercrime groups. Once they bypass the typically rudimentary security applications of a government body, adversaries are able to access the much wider bureaucratic network of councils, employees and agencies. With it they can inflict huge damage by charging high ransoms and bringing a halt to the digital infrastructure that manages and controls public services.

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