Cyber security strategy

Essex County Council's cyber security strategy 2025-26 sets out our goals, objectives, principles and approaches in protecting the council’s data and digital services. It aligns to the Essex Digital Roadmap and the developing Essex Digital Strategy that takes into consideration:

• the council’s cyber security goals, principles and approaches to protecting its technology infrastructure and information assets, that are to be guided by Local Government Cyber Assessment Framework (LG CAF)
• a recognition of UK National Cyber Security and HM Government Cyber Security Strategy in our local context
• the inherent integration required across district, borough and unitary authorities that considers devolution, including necessary public sector partners in Essex including the NHS, local authorities and blue light services

The council’s Cyber Security Committee, chaired by the Assistant Director of Cyber Security on behalf of the Director of the Essex Digital Service, will play a crucial role in overseeing this cyber security strategy. 

The Committee provides guidance on cyber security initiatives and integrates cyber risk considerations into key operational and strategic decision-making processes. This includes evaluating the cyber security implications of the council’s digital strategies and policies and making sure that management teams report metrics to the board on relevant cyber risks and risk ownership. 

The Committee alongside this cyber security strategy will allow the council to build a resilient organisation capable of sustaining business outcomes for residents despite adverse cyber events.

References

To create this strategy, we also referred to the:

• Local Government Association cyber security and resilience blueprint series
• Local Government Association Cyber 360 Framework
• Prepare for the CAF for local government on the UK Government Security website
• UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill