"The amount of data government has is truly extraordinary," Akamai's Richard Meeus on public sector data sharing

The power of data sharing: "we need to temper that opportunity with significant responsibility" said Richard Meeus, Director of Security Technology and Strategy at Akamai in his keynote speech at Government Transformation Summit. 

Akamai is the world's most distributed compute platform. They make it easier for companies to create and distribute applications whilst keeping data secure. 

Public sector security: the current situation

Research by Akamai has revealed there was a 50% increase in UK public sector cyber attacks between 2023 and 2024, with a further increase in 2025 expected. 

Sharing data across government securely is a unique task, Meeus acknowledges, as "the amount of data government has is truly extraordinary."

There are huge opportunities to "reduce bureaucratic friction to an impressive degree and build trust and transparency" by sharing data, according to Meeus.  

In a recent briefing paper with IDC market intelligence providers, Akamai researchers found that "improving citizen experience and trust when using government services" was the top priority for European government officials. 

The Tell Us Once initiative provides a great example of the benefits to citizen experience of successful data sharing, However, Meeus cautions that there are risks to that need to be accounted for to ensure data sharing is safe and effective. 

The value of sharing data 

1. Providing enhanced, joined-up public services, such as the Tell US Once project. This improves citizen experience making services seamless and responsive.
   
   
2. Improving trust - as Meeus notes: "open data initiatives, paradoxically, actually improve trust." Provided that data sharing is reliable and efficacy key
   
   
3. Supporting economic growth through public-private sector data sharing which can create new jobs. 
   
   
4. Ensuring policies are evidence based and well-informed to promote the best outcomes for citizens. 

The risks of sharing data

1. Violations of privacy due to data leaks. This can have a serious impact on the mental and physical health of people experiencing cyber stigma due to data leaking. 
   
   
2. Potential security breaches, such as cyberattacks.
   
   
3. Data misuse by third parties, a particular concern for public sector bodies sharing data with the private sector. Having clear and mandatory guidelines for data use is key. 
   
   
4. Non-compliance with regulation could be an issue, adhering to the 2018 Data Protection Act is necessary at all times. 

Overall, Meeus recommends protecting apps and APIs with security in mind, working on preventing credential abuse by setting strong passwords and taking a zero trust approach to logins.