Best Practices for Securing Public Sector Networks

Tim Matson, Government Lead | Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes

The UK is facing a cyber security crisis of unprecedented scale. Attacks are more frequent, more sophisticated, and more costly than ever before. Yet far too many public sector organisations are still treating cyber security as a box-ticking exercise rather than a strategic priority.

According to the UK government’s latest data, 43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. Even more alarming? Only 12% of organisations are aware of Cyber Essentials, the government’s baseline security standard. That’s not just a gap - it’s a chasm.

With the average cyberattack costing UK businesses £10,830, and £44 billion in lost revenue over the past five years, the price of inaction has never been higher. For public sector networks - which underpin critical services and sensitive citizen data - the consequences of a successful breach are unthinkable.

The Evolving Threat Landscape

Today’s cyber criminals are not the lone hackers of old. They’re part of highly organised, well-funded networks using automation, artificial intelligence, and social engineering to exploit even the smallest weakness.

Public sector systems - like local government - are prime targets. They often rely on complex, interconnected, and legacy infrastructure that’s difficult to modernise. Combine that with budget constraints and the constant pressure to deliver essential services, and the attack surface widens dramatically.

The LGA Cyber 360 Framework highlights this challenge clearly: councils must strengthen data governance, improve network visibility, and embed security across people, processes, and technology. In particular, Data Security stresses the need for strong access controls, encryption, and resilience - all of which depend on robust, well-managed network infrastructure.

Three Core Priorities for Strengthening Public Sector Cyber Resilience

For the public sector, cyber security success depends on getting the essentials right. Here’s three priorities that form the backbone of a strong, sustainable defence strategy - practical steps that protect critical services, safeguard data, and build long-term operational resilience.

1. Prioritise Cyber Hygiene and Baseline Security Standards

Strong cyber hygiene remains the cornerstone of every secure public network. Many breaches still occur due to basic vulnerabilities - things like weak passwords, unpatched systems, or misconfigured access controls. Ensuring compliance with Cyber Essentials and the NCSC’s “10 Steps to Cyber Security” should be considered the starting point, not the finish line.

Practical steps:

• Keep software and firmware fully updated and patched.

• Enforce strong password and credential management policies.

• Regularly test and audit network configurations and user access.

These fundamental practices dramatically reduce the attack surface - and they’re essential for maintaining public trust in critical services such as healthcare, local government, and national infrastructure.

2. Build Resilience Through Continuous Monitoring and Incident Readiness

No defence is infallible, which means resilience (not just prevention) is the new benchmark. Public sector bodies must be ready to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents quickly and effectively. That requires real-time network visibility, automated alerting, and well-rehearsed response plans.

Practical steps:

• Deploy Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) or AI-driven monitoring tools to detect anomalies in real time.

• Maintain a tested incident response plan with clear escalation paths and communication protocols.

• Conduct regular simulations and post-incident reviews to improve processes.

This proactive, adaptive stance ensures that even if an attack gets through, the damage is contained, recovery is rapid, and critical services remain operational.

3. Adopt a Zero Trust Security Model

Assume nothing, verify everything.

Public sector networks are often large, interconnected, and reliant on legacy systems - making them prime targets for lateral attacks once a breach occurs. A Zero Trust approach eliminates the concept of a trusted internal network. Instead, every user, device, and application must continuously verify identity and authorisation before gaining access.

Practical steps:

• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems.

• Use micro-segmentation to isolate sensitive data and limit internal movement.

• Continuously monitor and assess user behaviour for anomalies.

By embedding Zero Trust principles, organisations create dynamic, context-aware defences that adapt to evolving threats rather than relying on static perimeter controls.

The Critical Moment for the UK Public Sector

The UK’s cyber security landscape is at a critical juncture. With attacks increasing in frequency and sophistication, the time for half-measures has passed. Decision-makers must act now to build security into every layer of their networks - from policy to infrastructure to end-user access.

That doesn’t just mean deploying more tools. It means adopting an approach that connects people, processes, and technology under a single, coherent framework. The organisations that recognise that cyber security isn’t a continuous, ongoing project - and invest accordingly - will not only protect their data but also strengthen public trust and operational resilience.

How Cloud Gateway Can Help

At Cloud Gateway, we deliver professional-grade security expertise that actively protects your organisation from every angle. Our comprehensive security services integrate seamlessly with your existing network and cloud environments, ensuring regulatory compliance, meeting cyber insurance requirements, and providing end-to-end visibility and control. We help public sector bodies move from reactive defence to proactive resilience.

In a world where every connection is a potential entry point, Cloud Gateway ensures yours are secure.

Learn more about how we can strengthen your network and safeguard your mission.