The public sector has long struggled with a lack of funding for cyber security. More than half of respondents rate the funding allocated to cybersecurity as insufficient. Is your organisation planning to increase its cybersecurity budget for next year? Comparison of public sector vs. average (% of respondents) Public sector No (will decrease) 9% Do not know 21 % No (will remain constant) 24 % Yes 61 % 0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 % 80 % 90 % 100 % Cross-sector average No (will decrease) 3% Do not know 11 % No (will remain constant) 28 % Yes 59 % 0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % Figure 17 A look at the expected cybersecurity budget for public institutions shows that six percent more respondents than the national average indicate a decrease in the budget (Fig. 17). A minor positive may be that a majority of respondents expect it to increase, even two percent more than the average for other sectors. However, it is still the case that this increase may simply be an attempt to offset inflationary pressures. The main factor negatively affecting the budget level was very likely (75-85%) the government’s consolidation package, which, among other things reduces the funds available to the public sector. 31