FOI request (FOIR-489812423)

Cyber Essentials

Requested Wed 22 February 2023
Responded Tue 28 February 2023

Please could you provide answers to the following questions:

1. Which standards does your council currently adhere to (For example, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and so on)?

2. Which team/department/individual is responsible for managing compliance?

3. If compliance is managed by an internal staff member, what role(s) is this?

4. Has cybersecurity been set as a priority for 2023?

5. What software or systems does your council currently use to manage your compliance, and any related documentation?

6. If software or a system is currently in place, when does the current contract with that supplier expire?

7. If software or a system is currently in place, when did it last go out for procurement?

8. What is your current budget for compliance and compliance solutions?

If possible, please could you present the information via PDF or Excel document, sent to me via email.

Response

Request Refused

Notice of Refusal

Disclosure of information relating to ICT security constitutes a security risk as it would leave the Council's computer assets more vulnerable to a malicious hacking attack. This means that disclosure would:

• Make the Council more vulnerable to crime (Section 31)

• Risk harming the systems on which the day-to-day business of the Council relies (Section 43)

Section 31 (Law Enforcement)

Section 31(1)(a) states that information is exempt if its disclosure is likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. ICO guidance states that this can be used to protect information on a public authority's systems which would make it more vulnerable to crime. This exemption can be used by a public authority that has no law enforcement function:

• To protect the work of one that does

• To withhold information that would make anyone, including the public authority itself, more vulnerable to crime

The crime in question would be a malicious attack on the Council's computer systems. Since the disclosure of the withheld information would make the Council's systems more vulnerable to such crime, the exemption is engaged.

The exemption is subject to the public interest test. There is an overwhelming public interest in keeping the Council's computer systems secure which would be served by non-disclosure. This outweighs the public interest in accountability and transparency that would be served by disclosure.

Section 43 (Commercial Interests)

Section 43(2) states that information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

Disclosure of information relating to ICT security puts the council at risk of a malicious hacking attack.

This would compromise the Council's ability to provide its services and carry out 'business-as-usual' should our systems be compromised. Were our systems to be compromise, the cost of a system recovery would be detrimental to the Council's commercial interests.

The exemption is subject to the public interest test. There is an overwhelming public interest in keeping the Council's computer systems secure which would be served by non-disclosure. This outweighs the public interest in accountability and transparency that would be served by disclosure.