AI can enhance UK public services, but a secure foundation is needed first
The AI era is upon us, creating an opportunity for the public sector to rethink how critical services like healthcare, education, and local government are delivered.
In some cases, this is already happening. Medical Technology Providers Volpara Health Microsoft AI technology is being used to analyze mammography data to help clinicians better understand women’s risk of breast cancer, AI is helping UK schools create better, more personalized learning experiences for students, and city planners are increasingly deploying AI to manage utilities, transport systems and emergency services.
But with great potential comes great responsibility. Successfully integrating AI into our nation’s public services must first establish a strong cybersecurity foundation that protects the security and privacy of users.
Beware of gaps
After all, it’s not just UK public and private organisations looking to unlock the incredible potential of AI: cybercriminals also see it as a means to launch ever more sophisticated network-based attacks.
Paul Kelly, security business group director at Microsoft UK, explains: “The public sector needs to be prepared to fight fire with fire, deploying the same AI-enabled technologies that bad actors are using to protect themselves and their customers from cyber attacks.”
That advice couldn’t be more timely. With AI capabilities expanding rapidly, a recent study commissioned by Microsoft UK found that: Mission Critical: Unlocking the UK’s AI Opportunities through Cybersecurity, The survey found that only 11% of public sector respondents are currently using the technology to bolster their cyber defenses, significantly below the national average of 27%.
The research, which used a cybersecurity model developed by independent researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London, also found that just 13% of organisations across the UK, including many in the public sector, are currently resilient to the evolving threats of AI, while 48% are classed as vulnerable and 39% are at high risk of falling victim to a breach.
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This resilience gap doesn’t just put the security of public bodies at risk: from health data to payment details, many public bodies handle thousands of sensitive citizens’ information every day, meaning a successful breach could have devastating effects on both their service delivery and their relationships with the people and communities they serve.
Similarly, according to Goldsmiths researchers, cyber attacks are currently costing the national economy at least £87 billion a year, and pose a major obstacle to the UK’s goal of becoming a global AI superpower by 2030.
The path to resilience
But alongside the concerns, there are also reasons for optimism. A Microsoft UK study found that organisations using AI-enabled cybersecurity are twice as likely to be resilient to attacks than those who don’t. They also incur 20% less cost when breached. So embedding these defenses could be a game changer for your industry’s security, finances and reputation.
To see how, Microsoft UK research outlines five practical steps public bodies can take to strengthen their cybersecurity and, in doing so, support the UK’s AI leadership vision.
1. Understand the threat: Invest in AI solutions that continuously monitor and assess your organization’s unique threat landscape and help predict risks and responses, including budgeting for cybersecurity upgrades to keep up with advances in the technology itself.
2. Widespread use: Incorporate AI-powered cybersecurity tools. Microsoft Copilot for SecurityPrioritize risk detection and mitigation as central to operations across the organization.
3. Plan ahead: Establish and share clear guidelines and protocols across your organization for recovery and business continuity after a cyberattack, which can significantly reduce the operational, financial, and reputational disruption caused by a breach.
4. Have workers experiment: Everyone in your organisation has a role in protecting AI, and everyone should be comfortable and confident using it. Use safe spaces for experimentation to help staff overcome fears of AI and build a culture of understanding and trust.
5. Identify the right talent: Understand the competencies required for an AI-enabled workforce and equip employees with the necessary skills through the technology itself and on-the-job training. This includes: Free AI learning pathways from Microsoft in partnership with LinkedIn.
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Protecting the Future
Building a strong foundation in cybersecurity is essential for organisations that want to realise the full benefits of AI and build resilience against evolving threats. As a sector that operates within the very fabric of UK society and often supports some of the most vulnerable people in the country, the need for public bodies to have the right defences in place is crucial.
It’s definitely worth doing so. AI offers real and enduring opportunities to improve the quality, consistency and reach of public services, strengthen public trust, and increase the productivity and job satisfaction of an under-pressured workforce. A more efficient, more prosperous tomorrow awaits the public sector. But it must be secured today.
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