Lost devices "systemic risk" to UK cybersecurity

Thousands of UK government laptops, phones, and tablets have been lost or stolen, putting the country’s cybersecurity at risk.

Government devices worth £1.3 million ($1.7 million) are taken or lost in the UK every year, posing a “systemic risk” to the country’s cybersecurity, The Guardian has reported.

According to freedom of information disclosures, more than 2,000 devices were missing across government departments last year, including the Cabinet Office, which coordinates government activity.

Other agencies affected included the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office, HM Treasury, and the Bank of England.

According to The Guardian, the Cabinet Office lost or had 66 laptops and 124 phones in 2024, while the Ministry of Defence reported 103 missing laptops and 387 missing phones.

The Home Office, which oversees policing, had 147 devices go missing last year. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which is responsible for cybersecurity, had 83 phones and 18 laptops lost or stolen in the year to May 2025.

Cybersecurity experts told the outlet that these are “surprisingly” large numbers and “a huge national security risk,” especially if devices were open when stolen.

However, the government said that encryption would prevent access to bad actors. The Ministry of Defence said encryption “ensures any data is safeguarded and prevents access to the defence network.”

The Bank of England said it has “suitable protection” in place, while the government spokesperson told The Guardian that “laptops and mobile phones are always encrypted so any loss does not compromise security.”

Every loss or theft was investigated, the government said.