UK firms face stark gap between cybersecurity policies and real-world practice, exposing critical sectors to escalating risks

A new report reveals that despite robust policies, UK organisations across sectors like healthcare and finance continue to struggle with translating cybersecurity measures into effective practice, heightening vulnerability to cyber attacks such as ransomware and supply chain breaches.

UK companies continue to grapple with a persistent cybersecurity question: despite having robust cybersecurity policies, why do breaches still occur? A recently published Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index offers a revealing analysis by comparing what organisations outline in their cybersecurity policies versus their actual practices across eight key sectors in the UK.

The index evaluates alignment, or lack thereof, between policy indicators such as the frequency of privacy policy updates, the presence of documented cybersecurity policies, and references to ISO 27001 standards, against practice indicators like phishing failure rates, staffing ratios for cybersecurity teams, and reports made to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Sector-specific findings underscore different dynamics. In healthcare and pharmaceuticals, operational execution notably outpaces policy formulation. This sector, handling extremely sensitive data under GDPR, often lacks critical elements like incident service-level agreements (SLAs), clear escalation routes, and regular policy refreshes, which leaves it vulnerable to operational disruption. The recent 2024 cyber-attack on Synnovis, a major NHS pathology supplier in London, starkly illustrated this point by disrupting clinical services and delaying urgent outpatient procedures, underscoring the potentially severe consequences of supplier-targeted ransomware attacks. Reports from the NHS Blood and Transplant Annual Report and the National Cyber Security Centre’s Annual Review confirm this incident’s impact, highlighting the urgent need for robust cybersecurity in healthcare supply chains.

Conversely, retail and financial services sectors show a much tighter integration between policy and practice. Frequent policy updates, explicit adherence to ISO 27001 standards, and strong leadership accountability, often through a designated chief information security officer (CISO), characterise these sectors. Nevertheless, both sectors remain exposed to social engineering threats and risks posed by their supplier networks, signalling the ongoing challenge of managing third-party vulnerabilities.

The transport, manufacturing, energy, and technology sectors demonstrate more mixed and concerning pictures. Transport sector scores are low overall; manufacturing lags in updating policies and sustains lower cyber staffing levels. The energy and utilities sectors reveal the widest gaps between policy and practice, potentially linked to the accelerating digital transformation which increases exposure to cyber threats. In the technology and software sectors, often deemed cybersecurity-savvy, the Skillcast report highlights the largest disparity: while policy documents and headcount are strong, operational resilience lags markedly. Only 36% alignment between policy and practice has been observed, indicating that implementation still struggles with real-world cyber defence, necessitating a cultural shift for policies to translate into consistent daily practice.

Addressing this policy-practice gap involves strategic measures that extend beyond documentation. Skillcast recommends a comprehensive approach including rigorous tracking of incident response metrics like time-to-detect, contain, and recover; maintaining phishing failure rates in high-risk units below 3%; publishing quarterly security scorecards for accountability; and dynamically updating policies. Supplier risk management also requires enhancements: classifying suppliers by risk, imposing incident notification SLAs, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and controlled access, alongside regular supplier security testing and breach simulations.

Further, placing resources in high-risk areas rather than spreading them evenly, and ensuring security staffing ratios at or above 2% in high-exposure environments, are critical to resilience. Companies need to embed threat hunting, identity management, and ongoing training alongside technology investments. Transparency practices, such as providing the board with integrated security posture reports including incident impacts, insurance recovery, and planned improvements quarterly, are also advocated.

The UK government complements these initiatives by advancing international guidance to safeguard critical businesses from ransomware attacks, especially those targeting supply chains, a primary vulnerability highlighted across sectors. This leadership aims to promote better cyber hygiene and improve threat awareness globally, reinforcing efforts companies must adopt internally. The government’s upcoming 2025 cybersecurity survey and the ICO’s public incident dashboards offer benchmarks for measuring organisational maturity and incident trends.

Ultimately, the Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index reiterates a fundamental cybersecurity axiom: no matter how strong policies appear on paper, breaches remain ‘when, not if’ scenarios. Effective leadership must therefore focus on closing this policy-practice divide by institutionalising rehearsed recovery plans, continuous behavioural measurements, and complete transparency in documenting cybersecurity metrics and procedures. This cultural shift, from policy as static compliance documents to dynamic, embedded practice, is essential to building resilient organisations capable of withstanding the increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape.

📌 Reference Map:

• ^[1] TechHQ – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
• ^[2] Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index Report – Paragraphs 4, 7
• ^[3] Advanced Television – Paragraph 4
• ^[4] Skillcast Blog – Paragraph 3
• ^[5] UK Government – Paragraph 9
• ^[6] NHS Blood and Transplant Report – Paragraph 3
• ^[7] NCSC Annual Review – Paragraph 3

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative references the Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index, published in November 2025, indicating recent and original content. The report is accessible on Skillcast’s official website. The article also discusses the 2024 cyberattack on Synnovis, a major NHS pathology supplier in London, which disrupted clinical services and delayed urgent outpatient procedures. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/uk-health-officials-say-patients-death-partially-down-cyberattack-2025-06-26/?utm_source=openai)) This event is well-documented in reputable news outlets, confirming the timeliness and relevance of the information. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/23b324fd31cdebbdd57f46a0e0333a77?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from the Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index and statements from Synnovis’ CEO, Mark Dollar. These quotes are consistent with those found in the original Skillcast report and the Reuters article covering the Synnovis cyberattack. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/uk-health-officials-say-patients-death-partially-down-cyberattack-2025-06-26/?utm_source=openai)) No discrepancies or variations in wording were identified, suggesting accurate and consistent reporting.

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative originates from TechHQ, a publication that often features content from reputable sources. The Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index is a comprehensive report available on Skillcast’s official website, a recognised provider of compliance and cybersecurity training. The article also references the 2024 cyberattack on Synnovis, corroborated by multiple reputable news outlets, including Reuters. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/uk-health-officials-say-patients-death-partially-down-cyberattack-2025-06-26/?utm_source=openai)) While TechHQ is not as widely known as some major news organisations, the use of verifiable and reputable sources enhances the reliability of the narrative.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims made in the narrative align with documented events, such as the 2024 cyberattack on Synnovis and the findings of the Skillcast Cyber Culture Clash Index. The article provides specific details, including the impact on healthcare services and the recommendations for closing the policy-practice gap in cybersecurity. The language and tone are consistent with professional reporting on cybersecurity issues, and the narrative does not exhibit signs of sensationalism or inconsistency.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative presents recent and original content, accurately quoting reputable sources and aligning with documented events. The use of verifiable information and consistent reporting practices supports a high level of confidence in the narrative’s credibility.