Unstructured Data Security Solution for Public Sector

Superna helps government and public sector protect their most valuable assets

The public sector continues to be a prime target for cybercriminals, as ransomware attacks and data breaches hit government organizations at all levels. The need for strengthening the security culture in the public sector has never been greater.

Research by IT Governance found that in January 2024 alone there were 183 incidents in the public sector, including both ransomware attacks and data breaches.

Cyber attacks against government agencies and law practices increased by 95% in Q3 2023.

Local governments are the most vulnerable public sector entities to ransomware attacks, accounting for 60% of incidents, according to Trustwave.

The growth of unstructured data across all verticals has exploded — and it’s not slowing down. The total volume of data created, captured, copied, and consumed worldwide by 2024 will cross 149 zettabytes every year, according to Statista. Much of this data will be unstructured — with potentially massive value — but it also presents challenges and complexities. Public sector organizations need to understand the sheer magnitude of their unstructured data in order to harness and exploit it. Leveraging unstructured data has enormous implications for areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, emergency services, and education. Effectively analyzing unstructured data can empower decision-making, automating repetitive tasks and providing better and faster insights for improved outcomes. But in order to take full advantage, you first need to ensure the security and coninued availability of all that data. And that’s where Superna can help.

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Superna’s data security capabilities for public sector

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Public Sector

Superna understands public sector

For more than a decade, Superna has been at the forefront of protecting and managing unstructured data around the globe. Many in the public sector turn to us for our innovative data protection and recovery solutions.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions we receive about public sector and government.

How is unstructured data used within the public sector?

Unstructured data plays a crucial role in public sector and government operations across various domains:

Policy Analysis and Decision Making: Governments analyze unstructured data from diverse sources such as social media, public forums, and news articles to gauge public opinion, understand sentiments, and inform policy decisions.
Law Enforcement and National Security: Intelligence agencies analyze unstructured data like text documents, images, and videos to identify patterns, detect threats, and prevent criminal activities or terrorism.
Healthcare and Public Health: Governments use unstructured data from medical records, research papers, and public health reports to track disease outbreaks, assess healthcare trends, and formulate health policies.
Public Services and Social Programs: Agencies use unstructured data to evaluate the effectiveness of social programs, understand community needs, and allocate resources efficiently.
Urban Planning and Infrastructure: Governments analyze unstructured data such as satellite images, sensor data, and citizen feedback to plan urban development, monitor infrastructure projects, and improve city services.
Environmental Monitoring: Unstructured data from sensors, weather reports, and scientific studies help governments monitor environmental changes, assess risks like climate change impacts, and formulate environmental policies.
Open Government Initiatives: Governments increasingly make unstructured data publicly accessible through open data initiatives, enabling researchers, businesses, and citizens to analyze data for innovation and transparency purposes.

Overall, unstructured data in government facilitates informed decision-making, enhances public service delivery, improves efficiency, and supports evidence-based policymaking across various sectors.

Why is public sector such an attractive target for cybercriminals?

Some reasons why public sector presents such an attractive target for hackers:

Critical Infrastructure: Government agencies often oversee critical infrastructure such as utilities, transportation, and healthcare systems. Disrupting these services can cause widespread chaos and have significant economic impacts, making them attractive targets for ransomware attacks.
Rich Data Sources: Governments collect and store vast amounts of sensitive data about citizens, businesses, and national security. This includes personal information, financial records, and classified data, all of which are valuable to cybercriminals for identity theft, fraud, espionage, and blackmail.
Political Motivations: Cyberattacks on government entities can be politically motivated. Hacktivist groups or state-sponsored actors may target government systems to disrupt operations, steal sensitive information, or undermine public trust in government institutions.
Legacy Systems and Vulnerabilities: Many government agencies operate using legacy IT systems that may have outdated software or security measures. These systems are often more vulnerable to cyberattacks compared to newer, more secure technologies.
Budget Constraints: Government agencies may have limited budgets allocated for cybersecurity measures compared to large corporations. This can result in fewer resources dedicated to securing networks and data, making them easier targets for cybercriminals.
Complexity and Scale: Government organizations are often large and complex, with numerous interconnected networks and systems. Managing and securing these diverse infrastructures can be challenging, leaving potential vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Government agencies rely on a vast network of contractors, suppliers, and service providers. Weaknesses in these third-party systems can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to government networks and data.
Global Visibility: Government agencies are highly visible entities with significant public and international scrutiny. Successful cyberattacks against government organizations garner widespread attention, which can amplify the impact and objectives of cybercriminals.

Public sector remains a prime target for cybercriminals seeking financial gain, political leverage, or disruption of essential services. And as cyber threats evolve, governments and the public sector need to continuously improve their cybersecurity strategies and defenses to protect critical information, minimize disruption, and maintain public trust.