Council / SIC ‘cannot be complacent’ on cyber security
SHETLAND Islands Council is “doing as much as it can” regarding the threat of cyber attacks – with a warning made that the local authority “cannot be complacent”.
The topic was raised at a meeting of the council’s audit committee on Monday morning amid a number of cyber attacks in recent weeks on national retailers and some local authorities.
The West Lothian council also reported being the victim of a suspected ‘ransomware’ cyber attack, while Edinburgh council’s education department was also targeted.
At Monday’s audit committee meeting, Shetland Central councillor Moraig Lyall sought reassurance that the SIC was ensuring the “highest level of cyber security” when it came to digital technology.
She said a report mentioning how the SIC “lack a consistent and strategic approach to the use of digital technology to improve workforce productivity” gave her a “degree of anxiety” in light of the recent attacks.
Corporate services director Christine Ferguson said it was a challenging question as there is only a certain amount an organisation can do to safeguard itself while continuing to operate.
“We do have a number of measures in place to support us in that regard, however the national cyber security agency would say you would need to be prepared for it to happen,” she told the meeting.
Ferguson said a key part is planning for business continuity and resilience “because there is only a certain amount we can do”.
She also added that the council also relies on services outwith the SIC.
“We are doing as much as we can but we cannot be complacent,” Ferguson said.
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