As part of TU100 Block 1 Part 1 Activity 8, discussing public services, I thought about the impact of the number of cyber-attacks and our National data security. In the last few years there has been a move from paper-based data towards digital information storage within our public services. One I have personal experience of was Her Majesties Inspector Of Taxes.
I worked, in pre-computerisation days, (amongst the dinosaurs), as a Civil Servant Tax Officer in the Inland Revenue. In 1983, all archive, tax-payer and corporation files were housed in dusty folders in massive file repositaries at a local level. A request for information from another area was time-consuming, often misdirected or delayed.
Today, the Inland Revenue as well as the Government, Police and Councils provide access to data online. In respect of transparency, I applaud the move, (having first-hand knowledge of the antiquated, and some might argue, secretive paper-based systems of bygone days).
However, cyber-attacks by criminals and foreign hackers is very worrying at a personal and National Security level. MP’s have warned “A skills shortage and "chaotic" handling of personal data breaches are undermining confidence in the government's ability to protect the UK from cyber-attacks.” Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38845582 3/2/17.
Not only public services, but also our utilities, especially our Nuclear Power generation companies, the Ministry of Defence, and Governmental Departments have concerns about their firewall and data security. The Government are investing £1.9 billion of our tax-payer revenues in their “National Cyber Security Strategy, such is the concern about the risk we face today.
I thought it an interesting article on the BBC New website. Certainly thought provoking.