GlobalData : Data breach of MoD recruitment site highlights weaknesses in UK cyber defenses, says GlobalData

28 Apr 2022
Data breach of MoD recruitment site highlights weaknesses in UK cyber defenses, says GlobalData Posted in Aerospace, Defense & Security

Following the news that the British Army's recruitment website has been down since March following a data breach;

Madeline Wild, Associate Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, shares her view:

"The terms hybrid warfare and cyber-attacks are increasingly part of the everyday lexicon, with the breach of the British Army's recruitment site the most recent target of hackers. While the perpetrators have not been identified, with no official comment on whether the attack was carried out by state or non-state actors, the end result of the prolonged shutdown is the same. Approximately 125 applicants have had their data compromised, with online recruitment frozen.

"Capita, the contractor responsible for British Army recruitment, has not had an easy time since taking responsibility of Army recruitment in 2012. It has consistently failed to meet recruiting targets and oversaw the closure of numerous recruiting offices in favor of a centralized online recruitment office. It will be wanting to get its services back online as soon as possible as historically, international conflict such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, provides a useful driver for recruitment.

"A review into cyber defenses across MoD sites has now been commissioned. If the review finds weakness, any fix could be incrementally important. This is because, while no evidence has been released to suggest that the Kremlin carried out the attack, the war in Ukraine will almost certainly heighten concerns over an increased threat of cyber-attacks against government sites.

"Capita will likely be concerned over the ongoing shutdown of its site as it is currently one of four companies competing to provide recruitment services to a new tri-service application system. The contract for this is due to be awarded in 2024."