Government and defence agencies face growing cybersecurity risks

New research from Everfox, a cybersecurity company, has revealed concerns among government IT security leaders. Their report finds that 84% of these professionals agree that sharing sensitive data across networks exacerbates cyber risks. More than half still rely on manual data transfer processes, even as artificial intelligence accelerates operational tempos.

The recently published CYBER360: Defending the Digital Battlespace report, based on surveys of 500 security leaders and IT decision-makers in the U.S. and UK, paints a picture of escalating threats. National security organisations reported facing an average of 137 cyberattacks weekly in 2025, compared to 127 in 2024. Notably, the U.S. agencies were found to experience a 25% rise in attacks compared to their UK counterparts.

With digital transformation reshaping the 'battlespace', trusted data's secure movement is considered essential for mission success. However, survey participants highlighted several challenges:

• 78% identified outdated infrastructure as a significant vulnerability, pointing to analog systems and manual processes undermining secure data exchanges.
• Nearly half, 49%, consider maintaining data integrity during cross-network transfers as their primary hurdle.
• A significant 45% grapple with managing identity and authentication across various domains.

The CYBER360 report highlights an urgent need to evolve beyond traditional network defences. Adopting a new model combining multiple protection layers could be a solution. By employing three cybersecurity frameworks—Zero Trust, Data Centric Security (DCS), and Cross Domain Solutions (CDS)—agencies can aim to ensure secure, real-time data exchange across mission-critical systems.

This integrated approach seeks to enhance operational resilience and mission assurance, making it important to the future of digital security in government sectors.