UK public sector faces AI security & budget hurdles

SolarWinds has published a report highlighting key cybersecurity and IT challenges within the UK public sector, based on a survey of 100 IT decision-makers.

The "Next-Gen Government IT: AI and Observability Insights Report" underscores the significant cybersecurity concerns surrounding AI adoption, with nearly 29% of IT professionals expressing high levels of concern about potential security risks such as data privacy and compliance.

Budget constraints emerged as a major challenge, with 23% of respondents identifying it as the most significant obstacle in enhancing cybersecurity measures across public sector institutions.

The survey also identified careless or untrained staff as the leading source of IT security threats, a concern highlighted by 56% of those surveyed, suggesting a need for improved security awareness and training programmes.

The report, which surveyed decision-makers from local and central government bodies, indicates that digital transformation is ongoing, with privacy, security concerns, and integration complexities serving as primary barriers. Only a small fraction (6%) of respondents reported completing their digital transformation, while others are either well underway (42%) or have only begun implementing these changes (40%).

Prominent security challenges identified include vulnerabilities within monitoring systems and the safeguarding of sensitive information from cyber threats. The survey highlights that a significant portion of security threats stem from hacking activities (55%) and internal negligence or lack of training (56%).

AI implementation, albeit beneficial in areas like predictive analytics and issue detection, has met with caution due to these security concerns. Over 23% of respondents are currently using AI to automate IT operations and enhance IT observability, with further adoption anticipated. Nevertheless, apprehensions about data security and compliance persist, as noted by 29% of participants.

"It's clear that UK public sector organisations are shifting operations and workloads to the cloud and embracing hybrid IT environments now more than ever," said Richard Giblin, SolarWinds Head of UK Public Sector and Defence.

"But this evolution, along with increased AI adoption, brings added complexity in maintaining data security and regulatory compliance, all while navigating increasingly tight budgets. SolarWinds remains committed to identifying key trends and solutions, helping those that work for organisations like the MoD, our schools and the NHS."

He further added, "It is only by providing with the right tools with full visibility that we ensure the security and resilience of our nation's critical services."

The report, conducted in partnership with Market Connections, involved surveying IT decision-makers and influencers across the UK and the US, spanning Federal, State, Local, and Education sectors. This research aimed to assess confidence levels and concerns in managing IT environments, exploring the barriers to achieving digital modernization, and analysing current trends in AI usage and implementation.