Councils are working under immense pressure, and this contributes to their vulnerability. As seen in the case of St Helens MBC, this makes them targets for cyber attacks that threaten to impact essential service delivery and risk eroding public trust when incidents occur. Recognising this threat, we at the Local Government Association (LGA) saw the need for immediate practical support tailored to the sector.

While comprehensive frameworks and guidance exist, many local government officers told us they were missing something more immediate: understandable guidance suitable for non-technical staff responding outside core hours – something officers could turn to in the middle of a crisis, especially when access to systems might be limited.