Latest UK Cyber Attacks: A Wake-Up Call for 2025

The UK is facing an unprecedented surge in cyberattacks, with high-profile breaches affecting government agencies, retailers, and critical infrastructure. These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced cyber resilience across all sectors.

Government Under Siege: Legal Aid Agency Breach

In a significant breach, the UK’s Legal Aid Agency (LAA) was compromised, exposing sensitive personal data of up to 2.1 million individuals. The stolen information includes criminal records, financial details, and national insurance numbers dating back 15 years. The breach has raised concerns about fraud and extortion risks. The National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre are investigating the incident.

Retail Sector Targeted: Ransomware Strikes

Between April and May 2025, several UK retailers, including Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods, were targeted by ransomware attacks. The DragonForce group claimed responsibility, highlighting the growing threat to the retail sector. These attacks disrupted operations and underscored the need for robust cybersecurity measures in the retail industry.

Scottish Schools Suspended: Ransomware Attack

In May 2025, cyberattacks targeted Scottish schools, disrupting thousands of students during a critical exam period. In Edinburgh, a spear-phishing attack affected over 2,500 pupils by cutting access to online revision materials. The coordinated response between local councils, law enforcement, and national cybersecurity bodies highlights the importance of rapid action in mitigating the effects of such attacks.

Healthcare Disruption: NHS Scotland Hit

In March 2025, NHS Scotland experienced a cyberattack that caused network outages across multiple health boards. The attack disrupted clinical systems, leading to delayed patient care. The National Cyber Security Centre is supporting investigations into the incident.

Housing Provider Breached: Choice Housing Attacked

Choice Housing, one of Northern Ireland’s largest social housing providers, was targeted by a cyberattack earlier this year. The incident caused major IT disruptions and delays for tenants. While no data was compromised, the attack highlights the vulnerability of public sector organisations to cyber threats.

Critical Infrastructure at Risk: Southern Water Attack

Southern Water revealed a £4.5 million cost linked to a ransomware attack attributed to the Black Basta gang. The incident raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the UK and the potential risks to public safety.

Government Cyber Resilience Under Scrutiny

A report by the National Audit Office found that 58 critical government IT systems had significant gaps in cyber resilience. The report also highlighted that one in three cybersecurity roles in government were vacant or filled by temporary staff, posing a significant risk to national security.

Legal Reforms: Cyber Security and Resilience Bill

The UK government is consulting on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, aiming to strengthen the country’s cyber defences. The proposed legislation seeks to update existing regulations and increase reporting requirements for businesses to enhance cyber resilience.

Expert Insights:

To proactively strengthen cyber resilience, it’s essential to go beyond policy and actively implement key preventative controls. Best practice includes enforcing multi-factor authentication, role-based access, and monitoring of privileged accounts. Maintain a quarterly-reviewed incident response plan and ensure data backups are air-gapped, tested, and rapidly restorable. Segment networks across core infrastructure, OT, and cloud, and classify data to safeguard sensitive information. Address the human factor with phishing simulations and insider threat initiatives, and reduce exposure through regular penetration testing and vulnerability scans. Follow a strict 14-day patching cycle, addressing zero-day threats immediately.

These measures align with the objectives of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill — moving from guidelines to real-world implementation. We adopt CIS Controls and Cyber Essentials frameworks, assessing effectiveness against the MITRE ATT&CK framework to identify and close security gaps.

Conclusion: Strengthening Cyber Resilience

The recent surge in cyberattacks across various sectors in the UK highlights the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures. Organisations must prioritise cybersecurity to protect sensitive data and maintain public trust. The proposed Cyber Security and Resilience Bill represents a step towards strengthening the UK’s cyber defences and ensuring resilience against future threats.