How security innovation is redefining public sector efficiency and service delivery

Digital transformation is vital for modernising public services, especially those that have a large impact on citizens lives and wellbeing, such as the NHS and HMRC, driving unparalleled improvements in efficiency, service delivery, and long-term resilience. 

In 2024, the UK Government introduced an excellent replacement for accreditation and step forward in information management, Secure by Design (SbD). The cross - government SbD approach promotes a positive security culture and encourages project teams to make cyber security everyone’s collective responsibility; ultimately increasing the government’s cyber resilience and improve data sharing between organisations.

In the public sector, it is widely acknowledged that poor data sharing across organisations has often led to critical failures, including loss of life or incorrect actions being taken against individuals or groups. An example of this came from the Windrush Scandal, where hundreds of Commonwealth citizens who had lived legally in the UK for decades were wrongly detained, denied legal rights, threatened with deportation, and, in some cases, wrongfully deported. Many of these individuals were part of the so-called Windrush Generation, who had moved to the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean countries.

The failure stemmed from a lack of proper data sharing between different government departments, particularly the Home Office and other entities holding immigration, citizenship, and residency data. A critical issue was the Home Office’s reliance on incomplete or poorly managed data systems that were not integrated with the records of those legally entitled to live in the UK.

Not only is a lack of data sharing an issue, the quality of data should be considered too. Poorly recorded or incomplete duplicated data can and has had significant implications for public sector organisations such as law enforcement agencies.  For example, following the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017, it emerged that there were lapses in data sharing between security services and local law enforcement. However, critical information regarding his movements and radicalisation was not adequately shared with Greater Manchester Police, potentially contributing to missed opportunities to prevent the attack.

Security must drive transformation, not hinder it. Systems should not be locked down or made unusable by rigid security barriers. True efficiency isn't a fixed goal but an ongoing process of optimisation and improvement. By focusing on usability, availability, and continuous improvement, Secure by Design (SbD) ensures that security enables transformation and does not obstruct it—this is how security should have always been approached and what Advent IM have advocated and supported Government and public sector clients with for more than 20 years. 

In order to achieve successful digital transformation and good quality security practices, we must stop viewing information management as a mere cost or burden and start recognising it as a powerful enabler of efficient public services. Every failure in data sharing offers a critical opportunity to learn and improve; the real tragedy would be failing to seize that opportunity.

Cybersecurity is essential in digital transformation because it protects sensitive data, ensures regulatory compliance, and builds trust with customers and stakeholders. As organisations adopt new technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, they face emerging risks that require strong security measures to prevent data breaches, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

Effective cybersecurity not only safeguards against threats but also enables innovation by creating a secure environment for digital growth, ensuring long-term success and resilience. Without it, organisations risk compromising the very benefits of their digital transformation efforts, something public sector organisations can not afford to do. The financial resources available are rapidly shrinking, leaving public sector organisations with little margin for error. 

One of the greatest challenges in the public sector is the fragmented and isolated approach to system adoption, resulting in systems that fail to communicate with each other. As we embark on modernising key public services, we must also address and transform attitudes. Investing heavily in modernising services requires a corresponding shift in mindset and capabilities to ensure that the new systems are effectively utilised and integrated. Only by doing this can we achieve true digital transformation and all of the benefits it brings. 

Training individuals, such as Information Asset Owners (IAOs), is crucial not only for enhancing data accessibility but also for improving its overall health, leading to significant time and cost savings. Educating those responsible for managing data, and helping them understand that securing data doesn't mean restricting access, has delivered tangible benefits to the government and public sector organisations Advent IM have collaborated with.