logo
How councils in Wales are boosting their cyber defences

How councils in Wales are boosting their cyber defences

The move comes amid a rise in digital threats targeting public services, which rely on secure IT systems to deliver critical support to communities.
Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) spokesperson for digital and workforce, said: "Cyber resilience isn't a luxury – it's a necessity.
"As threats continue to evolve, councils need the tools and confidence to safeguard the systems that underpin the services people depend on."
The National Cyber Security Centre has reported a steady increase in attacks on the public sector, including phishing, ransomware, and supply chain incidents.
To address these risks, Welsh councils and fire and rescue services are using the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their cyber resilience.
The WLGA, in partnership with the Welsh Government, is supporting the rollout of the framework alongside other initiatives.
These include breach workshops, tabletop exercises, training videos, and CymruSOC, a centralised security operations centre that monitors and supports council cyber security.
Mr Batrouni said: "The Cyber Assessment Framework is a vital part of this effort.
"It helps councils understand their strengths and gaps and provides a structure for improvement."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Eisteddfod 2025 festival village recreated in Minecraft
Eisteddfod 2025 festival village recreated in Minecraft

Leader Live

time14 hours ago

  • Leader Live

Eisteddfod 2025 festival village recreated in Minecraft

Computing academics from Wrexham University have developed a new Minecraft world that digitally recreates the Welsh cultural festival, giving children and teenagers a chance to experience the Eisteddfod in the game's environment. Dr Shafiul Monir, associate dean for international and partnerships in the faculty of arts, computing and engineering at Wrexham University, said: "We wanted to create a platform that not only showcases the vibrancy of the Eisteddfod but also promotes digital skills and access for young people. "Minecraft is a powerful, creative tool, and by using it to celebrate Welsh culture, we're building both virtual and cultural communities. "By using a widely accessible and familiar game such as Minecraft, the project bridges the gap between tradition and technology, making Welsh culture more engaging and approachable for the next generation." Children will also be able to contribute by adding their own activities and landmarks, making the experience interactive. In addition to the Minecraft world, a "time machine" installation will be on display at the physical Eisteddfod site. The 'time machine' installation will be on display at the physical Eisteddfod site (Image: Supplied) Created by the university's School of Art in collaboration with the engineering department, the time machine invites attendees of all ages to record their predictions for the future of the Welsh language. Dr Monir said: "While the time machine is a fantastic way of ensuring the legacy of the Wrecsam National Eisteddfod, as it encourages people of all ages to look ahead and think about the future of the Welsh language." The recorded messages will be digitally stored and revisited in future years, forming a 'living archive' of aspirations for the language. The "time machine" itself has been built with recycled materials such as buttons, fans, and discs salvaged from the university's former engineering block, which is currently being demolished to make way for new facilities. The installation will play a part in the Eisteddfod's closing event on the main stage on the final Saturday of the festival at 10.30pm. Dr Monir praised the teamwork behind the two initiatives. He said: "I'd also like to take this opportunity to recognise some of our incredible team members, who have worked tirelessly on both initiatives. "For Minecraft, I want to call out lecturers, Matthew McDonald-Dick, Rachel Rowley, Daniella Povey and Teri Birch from our computing and games team. "While, for the time machine – a big shout out to master sculptor, Robin Connelly from our School of Art. "It's been a true team effort." Elen Mai Nefydd, Wrexham University's head of Welsh development and vice-chair for culture of the Wrexham National Eisteddfod Executive Committee 2025, said: "Both the Minecraft game and Welsh language time machine are excellent examples of how digital innovation can support the Welsh language and promote inclusivity. "It's been incredibly inspiring to see staff from different disciplines across the university come together with a shared purpose – to make the Eisteddfod even more engaging and accessible to more children, young people, and families. "These fantastic projects not only highlight the role of STEAM subjects in cultural engagement but also support our university contributing to the Welsh Government's goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050, and leaving a legacy for us as a university. "I'd like to thank our incredible team of academics, who have fully embraced and got involved with the National Eisteddfod preparations to create some wonderfully engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. "We are so excited for the festival to get underway now." READ MORE: Plans to demolish former cafe on A55 near Holywell Trustees appointed to support 'UK City of Culture 2029' ambitions in Wrexham Following the festival, the "time machine" will be relocated to Wrexham University's Creative Industries Building, where students will be encouraged to use it and record their own hopes for the future of the Welsh language. The Eisteddfod Minecraft village is now live and can be accessed by searching for the following server details in the game: Server Name: EisteddfodIP Address: 198.244.179.144Port: 2117

Labs by Transport for Wales and Media Cymru Names Inclutech as Winner of Accelerator Programme
Labs by Transport for Wales and Media Cymru Names Inclutech as Winner of Accelerator Programme

Business News Wales

time2 days ago

  • Business News Wales

Labs by Transport for Wales and Media Cymru Names Inclutech as Winner of Accelerator Programme

Labs by Transport for Wales has named accessible incident-reporting platform Inclutech the overall winner of its sixth accelerator programme, securing the start-up a contract to further develop its technology for the Welsh transport network. The announcement was the finale of a Demo Day held at Techniquest which showcased nine pioneering start-ups. The event, run in partnership with Media Cymru, was the culmination of a rigorous 10-week programme where innovators developed solutions to key challenges in transport and media, from AI-driven security to zero-emission regional travel. Before an audience of more than 50 industry leaders, investors, and policymakers, each company pitched the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) they had built. 'Cohort Six proves that Welsh innovation can solve global transport challenges,' said Barry Lloyd, Head of Innovation at Transport for Wales. 'The calibre of ideas we've seen spanning AI, inclusive design and zero-emission aviation shows that the Welsh transport system has a bright future ahead.' Gavin Johnson, Research and Development Producer, said: 'Media Cymru is delighted to partner with Transport for Wales to provide support to drive cutting-edge research and development (R&D) for the transport sector. Collaboration is key to unlocking smarter, more sustainable solutions, and this partnership reflects our shared commitment for innovation not only within the media sector, but across a broader range of sectors.' Three awards were presented to recognise outstanding achievements: Winner of Cohort Six: Inclutech – Founder Becca Hume won the top prize for her non-verbal incident-reporting platform, which empowers vulnerable passengers to flag safety concerns discreetly and in real time, creating a safer and more inclusive public transport environment. – Founder Becca Hume won the top prize for her non-verbal incident-reporting platform, which empowers vulnerable passengers to flag safety concerns discreetly and in real time, creating a safer and more inclusive public transport environment. Best Pitch: Barcud – Dr Ben Gwalchmai was recognised for his compelling pitch for a zero-emission electric seaplane service concept designed to slash Holyhead–Cardiff travel times to under two hours. – Dr Ben Gwalchmai was recognised for his compelling pitch for a zero-emission electric seaplane service concept designed to slash Holyhead–Cardiff travel times to under two hours. Spirit of the Programme: Cavefish AI – Steve Williams received this award for his work on the EchoDepthAI platform, an emotional-intelligence AI engine capable of interpreting 52 distinct emotions from facial expressions, voice, and text to help personalise passenger content and experiences. The winning contract gives Inclutech the opportunity to develop a proof-of-concept for TfW. Inclutech founder and CEO, Becca Hume said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to be selected as the overall cohort winner. Working alongside Transport for Wales over the past 10 weeks has been an invaluable experience — helping us shape a safer, more inclusive future for passengers and staff. This recognition highlights the urgent need for more accessible, streamlined reporting tools across the rail network, and we're excited about the potential to continue this work together.' The cohort also featured a diverse range of other pioneering solutions: Bays Consulting and Createc unveiled CrowdGuardian, a novel AI model that leverages real-time sensing technology to identify behaviours that could potentially become violent or dangerous, with a focus on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). 1 Timetable presented its collaborative platform designed to help the rail industry deliver against timetable objectives, placing vehicle, crew, and schedule data at the core of its software. Proaptus showcased its AI-driven solutions that use Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) to transform existing infrastructure into intelligent networks, enhancing security and efficiency. AfroSheep Animations demonstrated its engaging animated content and interactive media, designed to create compelling educational experiences for museums and tourist attractions. Crash Productions highlighted its focus on creating impactful, youth-oriented digital content and social campaigns in partnership with major social influencers and broadcasters. The event at Techniquest provided a backdrop for networking and discovery, reinforcing the commitment of Labs by TfW to fostering a thriving ecosystem for tech in Wales and delivering on the Welsh Government's vision of a modern, integrated, and sustainable transport network.

Place and Shipshape.vc Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Scaling Founders
Place and Shipshape.vc Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Scaling Founders

Business News Wales

time2 days ago

  • Business News Wales

Place and Shipshape.vc Announce Strategic Partnership to Support Scaling Founders

Place, the Cardiff-based talent partner for high-growth businesses, and the free investor search engine, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming how founders approach growth. Kieran O'Connor, founder and managing director of Place, has placed more than 1,000 candidates and advised founders on 'how to grow with intent, not just speed'. Daniel Sawko, founder of has built a platform that surfaces national and international funding options for founders, with tens of thousands of investors indexed and made discoverable. The pair said that startups often face a knowledge gap when it comes to people strategy, which they described as 'a critical yet overlooked component in long-term success'. While financial modelling, go-to-market strategies, and pitch decks receive most of the attention during fundraising, founders are often left in the dark about how to build teams that truly deliver, said Kieran and Daniel. The partnership aims to combine Place's expertise in strategic talent acquisition with real-time investor insight and startup intelligence. Whilst the long-term vision for the collaboration is to offer it globally, it is launching by supporting the South Wales startup scene. Daniel Sawko, founder of said: 'The partnership between Place and is a statement of intent that we are here to support startups. It's great to be joining forces with another Welsh founded business which shares a passion for supporting entrepreneurs, founders and early stage start ups on their journey to success. We're excited to grow both locally and internationally, and support others along the way too. 'We're delighted to be working with Kieran and the Place team to empower emerging tech companies globally with the knowledge on human capital they will need to succeed. It's fantastic that this initiative brings together two Welsh companies to do so.' The partnership has marked the launch of their collaboration with the release of The Strategic Founders Hiring Guide a free, practical resource for founders currently raising investment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store