Recommendation 2

Past attacks demonstrate that ransomware can cause severe disruption to the delivery of core Government services, including healthcare and child protection, as well as causing ongoing economic losses. Mass data loss from an attack can be irreversible, even when the ransom is paid. Given the damage wrought by these uncoordinated ransomware attacks, a coordinated and targeted attack has the potential to take down large parts of the UK’s critical national infrastructure and public services and—in the words of the National Crime Agency—to bring the country to a standstill. It would also shine a spotlight on the inadequacy of the Government’s efforts to secure the UK against ransomware, and to prepare for the aftermath of a major cyber-attack.