Public Sector is ramping up back up and recovery solutions

The growing cybersecurity threat

One of the most significant drivers behind this trend is the increasing threat of cyberattacks. Ransomware, in particular, has become a major concern for public sector organisations. Local government has been targeted by a number of high-profile attacks, which have underscored the need for robust backup and recovery systems. These solutions are critical to minimising downtime and data loss, enabling local government to restore services quickly and effectively after an attack.

Beyond ransomware, local government are also facing broader data breach concerns. With the volume of sensitive information they handle, the ability to recover data swiftly in the event of a breach is vital to maintaining public trust and ensuring compliance with legal obligations.

Regulatory pressures

Compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has added another layer of urgency to improving backup and recovery strategies. GDPR mandates that organisations, including councils, must ensure the integrity and availability of personal data. Failure to recover data after an incident can result in severe penalties, making effective backup solutions not just a best practice, but a regulatory necessity. Moreover, UK government guidelines and best practices around cyber resilience and disaster recovery further compel councils to enhance their data protection measures. Staying compliant with these guidelines requires councils to have strong backup and recovery protocols in place.

The push for digital transformation

As local government continues its digital transformation journeys, modernising outdated IT systems is at the forefront of these efforts. This modernisation often includes migrating services to the cloud, which necessitates robust backup and recovery solutions tailored to hybrid and cloud-based environments.

The more digital services a council offers, the more crucial it becomes to ensure that these services are resilient against data loss or service interruptions. Additionally, as councils become more dependent on data to deliver public services, the need for reliable backup systems grows.

A failure to recover critical data in a timely manner could disrupt essential services, causing significant inconvenience to the public and potentially harming the council’s reputation.

Financial and governmental support

Funding from the government has also played a role in encouraging councils to bolster their backup and recovery systems. Various funding pots and initiatives aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and IT infrastructure in the public sector have made it possible for councils to invest in these critical areas.

Councils are increasingly taking advantage of these opportunities to enhance their resilience against data loss and cyberattacks.

Meeting public expectations

The growing demand for accountability and transparency in how councils manage and protect public data is putting additional pressure on local governments.

With the public more aware than ever of cybersecurity risks, there is an expectation that councils will take all necessary steps to safeguard their data and ensure the continuity of services. Any disruption to council services due to data loss or cyber incidents can have serious political and social repercussions. Investing in reliable backup and recovery systems is not just about protecting data, it’s about maintaining the public’s trust and ensuring that vital services remain uninterrupted.