Capita Fined £14 Million

Deep
16 Oct, 2025
Capita

Capita Fined £14 Million After 2023 Cyberattack Exposed Data of 6.6 Million People

UK’s ICO Fines Capita £14 Million for Data Protection Failures

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined outsourcing giant Capita a total of £14 million following its major 2023 cyberattack that exposed the personal information of approximately 6.6 million people.

The fine includes £8 million against Capita Plc and £6 million against its pension services arm, Capita Pension Solutions, after an investigation revealed serious data protection failings.

 What Happened in the 2023 Cyberattack

The attack occurred in March 2023, when hackers gained unauthorized access to Capita’s internal systems.
Although Capita’s security team detected the breach within 10 minutes, the company reportedly did not shut down the compromised device for 58 hours — giving attackers ample time to exfiltrate sensitive data.

The stolen data included names, contact details, financial information, and special category data such as race, religion, and sexual orientation.
This breach affected staff, clients, and pension scheme members across multiple organizations in the UK.

 Why Capita Was Fined

The ICO found that Capita had:

  • Failed to apply critical security updates to known vulnerabilities.

  • Operated with an understaffed security operations center (SOC).

  • Lacked proper testing and monitoring before the breach occurred.

  • Delayed its incident response, increasing the risk of data exposure.

Originally, the ICO had proposed a £45 million fine. However, it was reduced to £14 million after Capita demonstrated cooperation, improved security practices, and worked with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to strengthen its systems.

Capita’s Response

A Capita spokesperson stated that the company has since invested heavily in cybersecurity, implemented advanced threat monitoring tools, and trained employees to enhance digital defense awareness.

“We’ve accelerated our cybersecurity investments to protect our clients’ data and ensure continuous vigilance,”
said Capita’s CEO.

What This Means for UK Businesses

This case serves as a strong warning to all UK organizations that handle personal data.
Regulators are now less tolerant of slow responses or outdated systems that lead to data breaches.
Businesses must ensure:

  • Regular software patching,

  • 24/7 threat monitoring, and

  • Clear incident response procedures.

Key Takeaways

  • Fine: £14 million total (£8M to Capita Plc, £6M to Capita Pension Solutions)

  • Affected: 6.6 million people

  • Main cause: Slow response and outdated systems

  • Regulator: UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

  • Year of breach: 2023

  • Date of penalty: October 2025

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Hardeep Singh

Hardeep Singh is a tech and money-blogging enthusiast, sharing guides on earning apps, affiliate programs, online business tips, AI tools, SEO, and blogging tutorials on Panstag.com.

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