Public bodies need targeted resources and to work in partnership with the public to be successful. 

Illumio has announced findings from a UK survey of 2000 adults to understand their attitudes towards cybersecurity. The study revealed international instability has caused increased cyber anxiety and a knock-on impact on the public’s confidence in the organisations they rely on in their daily lives.  

• Over half (56%) of adults harbour increased worry over potential cyberattacks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  
• 53% feel increased cyber anxiety over the impact of a cyberattack on them personally.  
• Banking systems are seen as under the greatest risk, followed by central government, financial services like insurance, and transportation systems. 
• Less than half (47%) are confident in central government’s capabilities to ward off digital threats effectively and only a third (35%) have confidence in local government. 

Conflict and tensions abroad seem a long way away. However, the war in Ukraine is the first major conflict where cyberwarfare has featured so prominently – and this is feeding into public perceptions and confidence. The potential threat to national security – and the ability for our country to defend itself – is the public’s greatest concern when it comes to cyberattacks, coming ahead of personal worries such as financial losses and the theft of personal data.  

This anxiety is likely fueled by a rising number of cyberattacks on public institutions, with 40% of incidents addressed by the NCSC last year targeting the public sector. Central and local government bodies reported more attacks last year than at any other time.  

Speaking about the findings, Trevor Dearing, Director of Critical Infrastructure at Illumio, said: “We must trust so many organisations with our data in our daily lives, so as the public become more concerned about the risks they face, it is only natural that more public bodies come under the spotlight. 

“The government must maintain public confidence in security, and the first step must be an increase in focus and resources for cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is no longer about building a moat to protect the outer wall. Attackers will get in, so the question security leaders face is how they stay resilient and protect systems and public data should a breach occur. Stringent authentication for all network movement is a must-have for organisations, using Zero Trust principles to block attackers from moving through the network after an initial breach.” 

Dan Patefield, Head of Cyber and National Security at techUK, said: "Cyber risk has become intrinsically common in people’s daily life. As the landscape of cyber threats grows more complex, individuals are feeling increasingly overwhelmed and ill-equipped to navigate this ever-evolving area. 

“In response to this challenge, it is important that public and private sectors join forces to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to protect themselves against cyber security threats. By fostering collaboration and sharing expertise, we can not only ease the anxiety gripping the public but also lay the groundwork for a resilient approach to cyber security."