The UK is the third most targeted country in the world for cyber attacks1 with more than 70% of medium to large businesses experiencing a cyber breach within the past year2. Public sector organisations, in particular, face unique cyber security challenges, as they manage sensitive data ranging from personal information to national security details. This makes them prime targets for increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, demanding that public sector systems and infrastructure evolve to meet these rising risks.
One of the most effective ways to protect these systems is through CHECK Penetration Testing, a government-approved process mandated to ensure public sector organisations meet the highest security standards set by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This requirement ensures vulnerabilities are identified and addressed, protecting critical systems and ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory expectations.
In this blog, we’ll explore the key challenges faced by public sector organisations and how CHECK penetration testing can help address them.
What is CHECK Penetration Testing?
Before we get started, let’s talk about what CHECK penetration testing is, and why it is relevant to public sector organisations.
Developed for government departments, public sector bodies, and organisations forming the UK’s critical national infrastructure, CHECK penetration testing is crucial for safeguarding sensitive systems. For central government departments and their associated agencies, any systems processing data marked as OFFICIAL or higher must be assessed by a CHECK-approved company. Similarly, other public sector bodies are strongly recommended to have their systems assessed by a CHECK provider unless explicitly advised otherwise by the system’s risk owner.
5 Key Challenges in the Public Sector and How CHECK Penetration Testing Can Help
1. Budget Constraints
You will be fully aware that public sector organisations often operate on limited budgets and as a result it can be challenging to allocate sufficient resources to cyber security. However, while the upfront costs of security measures may seem high, the financial and reputational damage from a cyber attack can be far more devastating. In fact, a recent Cabinet Office3 report estimates that cyber crime costs the UK £27 billion annually. Striking a balance between limited budgets and the need for robust security is essential to avoid these costly breaches.
How CHECK Penetration Testing Helps:
CHECK penetration testing provides a cost-effective way to ensure your systems are secure. Partnering with the right company, one that has the right mindset and approach, is essential to maximising the value of these tests. Through intelligent scoping and tailored assessments, vulnerabilities are identified before they can be exploited, allowing you to prioritise necessary security investments and avoid the much higher costs of a cyber incident.
2. Complex Legacy Systems
Many public sector organisations still rely on outdated legacy systems that were not originally designed to withstand modern cyber security threats. These systems often lack the latest security patches and the flexibility to integrate with newer, more secure technologies, making them a prime target for attackers.
How CHECK Penetration Testing Helps:
Penetration testing goes beyond simply applying modern security principles to outdated systems. Through consultative discussions about risk and tailored testing strategies, pen testing assesses the specific vulnerabilities of your legacy systems. This approach ensures targeted security measures are implemented to protect your critical infrastructure, helping you address the challenges of securing older technologies.
3. Compliance with Regulations and Standards
Public sector organisations are required to adhere to strict regulatory requirements such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and NCSC guidelines. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines and damage to your reputation, not to mention the increased risk of a data breach.
How CHECK Penetration Testing Helps:
CHECK penetration testing is designed to meet stringent security requirements by evaluating systems against key government standards. A well-conducted penetration test works backwards from these standards, ensuring that the testing is suitable and tailored to your specific needs. As an NCSC-approved service, CHECK ensures your organization complies with critical regulations, providing confidence that your security measures align with the highest levels of government assurance.
4. Lack of In-House Cyber Security Expertise
Public sector organisations may not always have dedicated cyber security teams, or the specialised expertise needed to respond to evolving cyber threats. This can make it difficult to properly assess and address the findings from penetration tests.
How CHECK Penetration Testing Helps:
CHECK penetration testing is performed by highly trained professionals who provide not only a detailed analysis of vulnerabilities but also practical, actionable recommendations. Our team works closely with your internal teams to ensure that the solutions are easy to implement, regardless of your in-house cyber security capabilities.
5. Increasing Cyber Threats
The public sector is a high-value target for cyber criminals due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. The rise of sophisticated threats such as ransomware and phishing attacks has made it clear that no organisation is immune.
How CHECK Penetration Testing Helps:
By simulating the tactics used by these cyber criminals, penetration testing helps you to understand how your systems might be exploited. CHECK testers follow strict guidelines to identify and address vulnerabilities that could otherwise be used to gain unauthorised access to critical data.
6. Supply Chain Attacks
Public sector organisations often work with multiple third-party suppliers, creating complex IT environments that are vulnerable to supply chain attacks. These attacks exploit less secure elements within the supply chain, such as third-party vendors or contractors, to gain access to more secure systems. This can bypass direct security measures and exploit weaknesses in interconnected systems.
How CHECK Penetration Testing Helps:
CHECK Penetration Testing evaluates the security of your systems and those of your third-party suppliers. By identifying vulnerabilities in both your infrastructure and your supply chain partners, CHECK Pen Testing helps you strengthen logging, monitoring, and overall security measures, ensuring comprehensive protection against potential attacks.
Conclusion
Cyber security in the public sector is not a “set it and forget it” process — it requires continuous assessment and adaptation. In today’s landscape, it’s no longer a question of if a cyber attack will happen, but when. With increasing budget constraints, complex legacy systems, and evolving threats, CHECK penetration testing offers a comprehensive solution to ensure public sector organisations remain secure and compliant.
By identifying vulnerabilities early and addressing them before they can be exploited, penetration testing offers a proactive approach to cyber security. For public sector organisations, it’s not just about protecting data — it’s about safeguarding public trust.
Ready to secure your systems with CHECK Penetration Testing?
Contact us today to discover how we can help you stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. As a NCSC CHECK Green Light and CREST-approved company, we bring top-tier expertise to our security and penetration testing. Our certified experts, including Cyber Scheme Team Leaders (CSTL) and Offensive Security Certified Professionals (OSCP), follow industry-approved methodologies and have a track record of responsibly disclosing security flaws with official CVE identifiers.
Let us help you protect your organisation with our rigorous and proven testing frameworks.