To receive a presentation from the Chief Digital Officer.

The Chief Digital Officer was in attendance to deliver a presentation to Members setting out the background to effective cyber security, and its applicability to the Trafford context. Stress was laid on the key principles of education, technical defences, effective processes and responses which learned lessons from threats experienced. Whilst the Council’s arrangements were deemed broadly to be robust in the context of a high threat level, it was acknowledged that in this area there would invariably be tension between issues of stability, flexibility, costs and proportionality. In discussion, Members raised a number of issues, including: specific measures possible to guard against cyber attacks; disaster recovery plans; the interrelationship between the need for security and the flexibility of the Council’s IT “offer”, and the availability of out-of-hours reporting facilities. In discussion, it was agreed that it would be helpful for the Committee to be provided with a further update, in approximately six months, on the development of action plans, with specific reference to disaster recovery mechanisms.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That the content of the presentation be noted.

(2)       That a further update on action plans be provided to the Committee in due course.