Association receives money from Cabinet Office as step to promoting good practice
The Local Government Association (LGA) has been awarded £1.5 million from the Cabinet Office for work on improving cyber security arrangements in English councils.
It has received the money as part of the National Cyber Security Programme funding, with the aim of identifying good practice and how it can be shared among councils.
A first step will involve a "stocktake" of existing arrangements to determine what support is needed, including for individual councils.
While the initial funding is for 2018-19, the LGA will have the opportunity to bid for more in the autumn.
Councillor Paul Bettison (pictured), chair of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board, said: “Councils take cyber security extremely seriously, but as we have seen through recent attacks, there is a constant need to review and bolster cyber security defences where appropriate.
“Councils hold significant amounts of sensitive data which is why it is hugely important that we have the necessary protections in place.
“This funding will be used by the LGA to help councils share best practice and strengthen their ability to mitigate against cyber threats.”
The LGA’s ongoing contribution to cyber security involves two main efforts: to promote good practice, guidance and tools; and to raise issues and concerns from councils.
It also runs a number of boards on which relevant issues can be raised, including stakeholder and technical advisory groups for cyber security.
Image from Bracknell Forest Council, Open Government Licence v3.0
