Case Study:
From Fragmented to Fluent: Cabinet Office Cyber Risk Transformation
The UK Cabinet Office, at the heart of national government operations, needed to modernise how it approached cyber risk. Legacy frameworks had evolved organically, becoming inconsistent and misaligned with today’s regulatory standards and operational needs. The Chief Information Security Officer brought in Muse as a Specialist Advisor to lead a risk management overhaul and embed a repeatable training programme for long-term capability building.
The Challenge:
Strategic Oversight Without Overhead
Cyber risk frameworks within the Cabinet Office had become fragmented and reactive. Without a unified approach, teams struggled to assess, manage, or communicate risk effectively – particularly in a landscape shaped by rising threats and increasing scrutiny. The CISO needed more than a compliance exercise: they needed a scalable, plain-language framework that operational teams could actually use, paired with a way to build internal fluency without overwhelming them.
The Approach:
Muse led a foundational transformation that focused on simplification, alignment, and empowerment:
- Refreshed the Cyber Risk Management Framework, anchored in the HM Treasury Orange Book and consistent with NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
- Developed tailored risk appetite statements linked to high-priority services and national assets.
- Standardised templates and procedures for consistent risk identification, assessment, and acceptance.
- Integrated the government’s classification schema, ensuring risk processes aligned with information handling policies.
- Created and delivered a department-wide training programme, designed in plain language and tailored to policy, operations, and delivery teams.
- Embedded practical tools and guidance, making the framework accessible for non-cyber staff and reinforcing shared responsibility.
The Outcome:
In under eight weeks, the Cabinet Office gained a transparent, auditable, and scalable risk management model. Risk conversations moved out of specialist silos and into the everyday workings of government.
- First department-wide cyber risk training launched, improving fluency and engagement across teams.
- Clarity on ownership and thresholds, now embedded in executive-level decision-making.
- Framework designed for reuse and scaling across other government departments.
- Improved reporting and oversight, leading to positive feedback from senior stakeholders and policy auditors.
“Muse’s work brought clarity, rigour and practicality to an area of government that’s often overcomplicated. They gave us the tools, and the confidence to operationalise cyber risk in a way that works.”
Vincent Devine, Chief Information Security Officer, Cabinet Office
Insights & Takeaways
- Plain-language risk frameworks are more than a communication strategy – they’re a cultural shift.
- Training isn’t just for awareness; when done right, it becomes a driver for operational confidence.
- Aligning to government standards (like the Orange Book and NCSC CAF) is essential, but success hinges on how they’re implemented — not just ticked off.
What’s Next
The Cabinet Office is now exploring how this model can be adapted and rolled out across other departments, turning one-time consultancy into a blueprint for government-wide resilience. Muse continues to provide strategic oversight, mentoring internal teams to sustain and scale the capability.