Hundreds of thousands of people.
15 years of sensitive data.
Stolen in a single breach.
On April 23, 2025, the UK’s Legal Aid Agency (LAA) discovered a devastating cyberattack that exposed the personal details of anyone who had applied for legal aid since 2010, including names, NI numbers, financial records, and even criminal history.
And here’s the kicker:
It could have been prevented.
While full details are still emerging, the breach shows clear signs of fundamental cybersecurity failures:
Unpatched systems
Weak access controls
Poor visibility of vulnerabilities
No clear incident response strategy
In other words, the LAA fell at the first hurdle.
Cyber Essentials is the UK Government’s frontline defence against this attack. It’s not complex, it’s not expensive, but it works.
Here’s how it helps stop breaches like this:
Patch Management: Cyber Essentials enforces regular updates to close known security holes — the most common attack vector in government hacks.
Access Controls & MFA: Stops unauthorised users gaining access, even if credentials are leaked.
Malware Protection: Prevents threats like ransomware from spreading undetected.
Secure Configuration: Shuts down unused ports, default settings, and other easy exploits.
Firewalls & Boundary Defences: Acts as a gatekeeper between your systems and the outside world.
No gimmicks. Just proven cyber hygiene and a clear signal that your organisation takes security seriously.
According to the latest IASME & NCSC-backed brochure:
DSIT and the NCSC have made it clear:
Cybersecurity in the supply chain is no longer optional — it’s a national resilience priority.
Public sector suppliers must prove they’re not the weakest link.
Had the LAA combined Cyber Essentials certification with monthly vulnerability scans and penetration testing, they could have:
Detected open weaknesses before attackers did
Simulated real-world attacks to test resilience
Reported to leadership on risk posture monthly
Stayed compliant with NHS and government expectations for supply chain security
This isn’t just a government problem.
You're next on the list if you’re in the legal, healthcare, Charity, education, or public sector supply chain.
When you don’t secure your systems, you don’t just risk your own data — you risk everyone else’s too. That’s why government bodies are ramping up requirements for:
Cyber Essentials / CE Plus certification
Continuous cyber compliance
Third-party auditing to stop “marking your own homework"
Don’t wait to become tomorrow’s headline.
Cyber Essentials is affordable, fast, and makes a real difference.
Certify.
Stay compliant.
Protect your clients — and your reputation.
Need help getting certified or building an ongoing compliance programme?
Let’s talk. CTS makes cyber simple.