The British Library Company Cyber Security Posture

bl.uk

We are the UK’s national library. We give access to the world’s most comprehensive collection of over 170 million items - a living collection that grows every single day. Dating back 3,000 years, the collection includes Shakespeare’s First Folio, Magna Carta, a rare recording of Florence Nightingale and even Sylvia Pankhurst’s poems written on toilet paper from prison… But the collection also includes this morning’s newspapers, blogs and tweets, as well as a copy of every UK domain website. Our collection helps to open up a world of ideas. It can inspire people to start businesses. Spark new works of art and literature. Make scientific discoveries. Visit bl.uk to start your journey of discovery.

BL Company Details

Linkedin ID:

the-british-library

Employees number:

1307 employees

Number of followers:

85198.0

NAICS:

519

Industry Type:

Libraries

Homepage:

bl.uk

IP Addresses:

Scan still pending

Company ID:

THE_2153552

Scan Status:

In-progress

AI scoreBL Risk Score (AI oriented)

Between 900 and 1000

This score is AI-generated and less favored by cyber insurers, who prefer the TPRM score.

Ailogo

The British Library Company Scoring based on AI Models

Model NameDateDescriptionCurrent Score DifferenceScore
AVERAGE-Industry03-12-2025

This score represents the average cybersecurity rating of companies already scanned within the same industry. It provides a benchmark to compare an individual company's security posture against its industry peers.

N/A

Between 900 and 1000

The British Library Company Cyber Security News & History

Past Incidents
1
Attack Types
1
EntityTypeSeverityImpactSeenUrl IDDetailsView
British LibraryRansomware10045/2025THE300050125Link
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: In October 2023, the British Library, a government-sponsored public body, was hit by a catastrophic ransomware attack carried out by a Rhysida affiliate. Attackers likely exploited a lack of multi-factor authentication on an administrator account to gain initial access, then encrypted critical on-premises data and destroyed servers to disrupt recovery efforts and conceal their activities. They exfiltrated approximately 600 GB of sensitive internal data, including personally identifiable information (PII) on staff and library users, which was subsequently offered for sale and later published on the dark web. The library estimates direct financial losses of £1.6 million, covering incident response, system restoration, and operational downtime. While cloud-based services such as email, finance, HR, and payroll remained intact, extensive rebuilding of legacy infrastructure is underway during an 18-month renewal phase focused on upgrades and migrations to more secure architectures. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office opted not to pursue formal penalties, instead commending the library’s transparency and providing guidance to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses going forward.

The British Library Company Subsidiaries

SubsidiaryImage

We are the UK’s national library. We give access to the world’s most comprehensive collection of over 170 million items - a living collection that grows every single day. Dating back 3,000 years, the collection includes Shakespeare’s First Folio, Magna Carta, a rare recording of Florence Nightingale and even Sylvia Pankhurst’s poems written on toilet paper from prison… But the collection also includes this morning’s newspapers, blogs and tweets, as well as a copy of every UK domain website. Our collection helps to open up a world of ideas. It can inspire people to start businesses. Spark new works of art and literature. Make scientific discoveries. Visit bl.uk to start your journey of discovery.

Loading...

Access Data Using Our API

SubsidiaryImage

Get company history

curl -i -X GET 'https://api.rankiteo.com/underwriter-getcompany-history?linkedin_id=the-british-library' -H 'apikey: YOUR_API_KEY_HERE'
newsone

BL Cyber Security News

2024-09-30T07:00:00.000Z
Full transparency: 10 lessons from the cyber-attack on the British Library

In the fall of 2023, it fell victim to a major ransomware attack that severely disrupted its operations and compromised sensitive data.

2025-05-01T07:00:00.000Z
British Library avoids investigation over ransomware attack, praised again for response

The U.K. Information Commissioner's Office said it will not investigate the British Library over a 2023 ransomware attack.

2024-10-14T07:00:00.000Z
British Library slowly resuming service after cyber-attack

Officials at the British Library say that key services are slowly being restored following a catastrophic cyber-attack on the institution's ...

2025-03-22T07:00:00.000Z
Prioritisation, Expertise, and Funding Issues

The Rhysida group perpetrated this catastrophic ransomware attack. Underfunding and threat identification are explored as potential weaknesses ...

2025-05-30T12:26:54.000Z
Britain’s Companies Are Being Hacked

Retailers have been plagued by cyber-attacks. The news just arrived this week that the website of Adidas had been hacked. Consumer information ...

2025-01-27T08:00:00.000Z
Cyber incident that closed British Museum was inside job

An IT incident that disrupted visitor access to the British Museum last week was the work of a disgruntled contractor who had been let go.

2025-05-12T07:00:00.000Z
‘Not the most effective use of our resources’ – ICO opts against full probe of British Library cyberattack

The Information Commissioner's Office has commended the British Library for the openness with which it has responded to a major cyberattack in ...

2024-08-22T07:00:00.000Z
British Library issues £400,000 tender as rebuild continues after 2023 cyber attack

British Library issues £400,000 tender as rebuild continues after 2023 cyber attack · British Library already committed to freeing up 40% of ...

2024-06-25T07:00:00.000Z
Key Takeaways From the British Library Cyberattack

In October 2023, the British Library underwent a crippling cyberattack that took down its website, a majority of its online services, including ...

similarCompanies

BL Similar Companies

Loading...
faq

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Cybersecurity Incidents

BL CyberSecurity History Information

Total Incidents: According to Rankiteo, BL has faced 1 incidents in the past.

Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include ['Ransomware'].

Total Financial Loss: The total financial loss from these incidents is estimated to be {total_financial_loss}.

Cybersecurity Posture: The company's overall cybersecurity posture is described as We are the UK’s national library. We give access to the world’s most comprehensive collection of over 170 million items - a living collection that grows every single day. Dating back 3,000 years, the collection includes Shakespeare’s First Folio, Magna Carta, a rare recording of Florence Nightingale and even Sylvia Pankhurst’s poems written on toilet paper from prison… But the collection also includes this morning’s newspapers, blogs and tweets, as well as a copy of every UK domain website. Our collection helps to open up a world of ideas. It can inspire people to start businesses. Spark new works of art and literature. Make scientific discoveries. Visit bl.uk to start your journey of discovery..

Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through {description_of_detection_and_response_process}.

Incident Details

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Title: {Incident_Title}

Description: {Brief_description_of_the_incident}

Date Detected: {Detection_Date}

Date Publicly Disclosed: {Disclosure_Date}

Date Resolved: {Resolution_Date}

Type: {Type_of_Attack}

Attack Vector: {Attack_Vector}

Vulnerability Exploited: {Vulnerability}

Threat Actor: {Threat_Actor}

Motivation: {Motivation}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Title: {Incident_Title}

Description: {Brief_description_of_the_incident}

Date Detected: {Detection_Date}

Date Publicly Disclosed: {Disclosure_Date}

Date Resolved: {Resolution_Date}

Type: {Type_of_Attack}

Attack Vector: {Attack_Vector}

Vulnerability Exploited: {Vulnerability}

Threat Actor: {Threat_Actor}

Motivation: {Motivation}

Common Attack Types: As of now, the company has not encountered any reported incidents involving common cyberattacks.

Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through {description_of_identification_process}.

Impact of the Incidents

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Financial Loss: {Financial_Loss}

Data Compromised: {Data_Compromised}

Systems Affected: {Systems_Affected}

Downtime: {Downtime}

Operational Impact: {Operational_Impact}

Conversion Rate Impact: {Conversion_Rate_Impact}

Revenue Loss: {Revenue_Loss}

Customer Complaints: {Customer_Complaints}

Brand Reputation Impact: {Brand_Reputation_Impact}

Legal Liabilities: {Legal_Liabilities}

Identity Theft Risk: {Identity_Theft_Risk}

Payment Information Risk: {Payment_Information_Risk}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Financial Loss: {Financial_Loss}

Data Compromised: {Data_Compromised}

Systems Affected: {Systems_Affected}

Downtime: {Downtime}

Operational Impact: {Operational_Impact}

Conversion Rate Impact: {Conversion_Rate_Impact}

Revenue Loss: {Revenue_Loss}

Customer Complaints: {Customer_Complaints}

Brand Reputation Impact: {Brand_Reputation_Impact}

Legal Liabilities: {Legal_Liabilities}

Identity Theft Risk: {Identity_Theft_Risk}

Payment Information Risk: {Payment_Information_Risk}

Average Financial Loss: The average financial loss per incident is {average_financial_loss}.

Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are {list_of_commonly_compromised_data_types}.

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Entity Name: {Entity_Name}

Entity Type: {Entity_Type}

Industry: {Industry}

Location: {Location}

Size: {Size}

Customers Affected: {Customers_Affected}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Entity Name: {Entity_Name}

Entity Type: {Entity_Type}

Industry: {Industry}

Location: {Location}

Size: {Size}

Customers Affected: {Customers_Affected}

Response to the Incidents

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Incident Response Plan Activated: {Yes/No}

Third Party Assistance: {Yes/No}

Law Enforcement Notified: {Yes/No}

Containment Measures: {Containment_Measures}

Remediation Measures: {Remediation_Measures}

Recovery Measures: {Recovery_Measures}

Communication Strategy: {Communication_Strategy}

Adaptive Behavioral WAF: {Adaptive_Behavioral_WAF}

On-Demand Scrubbing Services: {On_Demand_Scrubbing_Services}

Network Segmentation: {Network_Segmentation}

Enhanced Monitoring: {Enhanced_Monitoring}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Incident Response Plan Activated: {Yes/No}

Third Party Assistance: {Yes/No}

Law Enforcement Notified: {Yes/No}

Containment Measures: {Containment_Measures}

Remediation Measures: {Remediation_Measures}

Recovery Measures: {Recovery_Measures}

Communication Strategy: {Communication_Strategy}

Adaptive Behavioral WAF: {Adaptive_Behavioral_WAF}

On-Demand Scrubbing Services: {On_Demand_Scrubbing_Services}

Network Segmentation: {Network_Segmentation}

Enhanced Monitoring: {Enhanced_Monitoring}

Incident Response Plan: The company's incident response plan is described as {description_of_incident_response_plan}.

Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through {description_of_third_party_involvement}.

Data Breach Information

Incident 2: Data Breach

Type of Data Compromised: {Type_of_Data}

Number of Records Exposed: {Number_of_Records}

Sensitivity of Data: {Sensitivity_of_Data}

Data Exfiltration: {Yes/No}

Data Encryption: {Yes/No}

File Types Exposed: {File_Types}

Personally Identifiable Information: {Yes/No}

Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: {description_of_prevention_measures}.

Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through {description_of_handling_process}.

Ransomware Information

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Ransom Demanded: {Ransom_Amount}

Ransom Paid: {Ransom_Paid}

Ransomware Strain: {Ransomware_Strain}

Data Encryption: {Yes/No}

Data Exfiltration: {Yes/No}

Ransom Payment Policy: The company's policy on paying ransoms in ransomware incidents is described as {description_of_ransom_payment_policy}.

Data Recovery from Ransomware: The company recovers data encrypted by ransomware through {description_of_data_recovery_process}.

Regulatory Compliance

Ransomware Logo

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Regulations Violated: {Regulations_Violated}

Fines Imposed: {Fines_Imposed}

Legal Actions: {Legal_Actions}

Regulatory Notifications: {Regulatory_Notifications}

Data Breach Logo

Incident 2: Data Breach

Regulations Violated: {Regulations_Violated}

Fines Imposed: {Fines_Imposed}

Legal Actions: {Legal_Actions}

Regulatory Notifications: {Regulatory_Notifications}

Regulatory Frameworks: The company complies with the following regulatory frameworks regarding cybersecurity: {list_of_regulatory_frameworks}.

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: The company ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through {description_of_compliance_measures}.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Lessons Learned: {Lessons_Learned}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Lessons Learned: {Lessons_Learned}

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Recommendations: {Recommendations}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Recommendations: {Recommendations}

Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are {list_of_key_lessons_learned}.

Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: {list_of_implemented_recommendations}.

References

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Source: {Source}

URL: {URL}

Date Accessed: {Date_Accessed}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Source: {Source}

URL: {URL}

Date Accessed: {Date_Accessed}

Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at {list_of_additional_resources}.

Investigation Status

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Investigation Status: {Investigation_Status}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Investigation Status: {Investigation_Status}

Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through {description_of_communication_process}.

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Stakeholder Advisories: {Stakeholder_Advisories}

Customer Advisories: {Customer_Advisories}


Incident 2: Data Breach

Stakeholder Advisories: {Stakeholder_Advisories}

Customer Advisories: {Customer_Advisories}

Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: {description_of_advisories_provided}.

Initial Access Broker

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Entry Point: {Entry_Point}

Reconnaissance Period: {Reconnaissance_Period}

Backdoors Established: {Backdoors_Established}

High Value Targets: {High_Value_Targets}

Data Sold on Dark Web: {Yes/No}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Entry Point: {Entry_Point}

Reconnaissance Period: {Reconnaissance_Period}

Backdoors Established: {Backdoors_Established}

High Value Targets: {High_Value_Targets}

Data Sold on Dark Web: {Yes/No}

Monitoring and Mitigation of Initial Access Brokers: The company monitors and mitigates the activities of initial access brokers through {description_of_monitoring_and_mitigation_measures}.

Post-Incident Analysis

Incident 1: Ransomware Attack

Root Causes: {Root_Causes}

Corrective Actions: {Corrective_Actions}

Incident 2: Data Breach

Root Causes: {Root_Causes}

Corrective Actions: {Corrective_Actions}

Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as {description_of_post_incident_analysis_process}.

Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: {list_of_corrective_actions_taken}.

Additional Questions

General Information

Ransom Payment History: The company has {paid/not_paid} ransoms in the past.

Last Ransom Demanded: The amount of the last ransom demanded was {last_ransom_amount}.

Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident was {last_attacking_group}.

Incident Details

Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on {most_recent_incident_detected_date}.

Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on {most_recent_incident_publicly_disclosed_date}.

Most Recent Incident Resolved: The most recent incident resolved was on {most_recent_incident_resolved_date}.

Impact of the Incidents

Highest Financial Loss: The highest financial loss from an incident was {highest_financial_loss}.

Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident was {most_significant_data_compromised}.

Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was {most_significant_system_affected}.

Response to the Incidents

Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was {third_party_assistance_in_most_recent_incident}.

Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were {containment_measures_in_most_recent_incident}.

Data Breach Information

Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach was {most_sensitive_data_compromised}.

Number of Records Exposed: The number of records exposed in the most significant breach was {number_of_records_exposed}.

Ransomware Information

Highest Ransom Demanded: The highest ransom demanded in a ransomware incident was {highest_ransom_demanded}.

Highest Ransom Paid: The highest ransom paid in a ransomware incident was {highest_ransom_paid}.

Regulatory Compliance

Highest Fine Imposed: The highest fine imposed for a regulatory violation was {highest_fine_imposed}.

Most Significant Legal Action: The most significant legal action taken for a regulatory violation was {most_significant_legal_action}.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was {most_significant_lesson_learned}.

Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was {most_significant_recommendation_implemented}.

References

Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident is {most_recent_source}.

Most Recent URL for Additional Resources: The most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices is {most_recent_url}.

Investigation Status

Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is {current_status_of_most_recent_investigation}.

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was {most_recent_stakeholder_advisory}.

Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued was {most_recent_customer_advisory}.

Initial Access Broker

Most Recent Entry Point: The most recent entry point used by an initial access broker was {most_recent_entry_point}.

Most Recent Reconnaissance Period: The most recent reconnaissance period for an incident was {most_recent_reconnaissance_period}.

Post-Incident Analysis

Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was {most_significant_root_cause}.

Most Significant Corrective Action: The most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis was {most_significant_corrective_action}.

What Do We Measure?

revertimgrevertimgrevertimgrevertimg
Incident
revertimgrevertimgrevertimgrevertimg
Finding
revertimgrevertimgrevertimgrevertimg
Grade
revertimgrevertimgrevertimgrevertimg
Digital Assets

Every week, Rankiteo analyzes billions of signals to give organizations a sharper, faster view of emerging risks. With deeper, more actionable intelligence at their fingertips, security teams can outpace threat actors, respond instantly to Zero-Day attacks, and dramatically shrink their risk exposure window.

These are some of the factors we use to calculate the overall score:

Network Security

Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.

SBOM (Software Bill of Materials)

Gain visibility into the software components used within an organization to detect vulnerabilities, manage risk, and ensure supply chain security.

CMDB (Configuration Management Database)

Monitor and manage all IT assets and their configurations to ensure accurate, real-time visibility across the company's technology environment.

Threat Intelligence

Leverage real-time insights on active threats, malware campaigns, and emerging vulnerabilities to proactively defend against evolving cyberattacks.

Top LeftTop RightBottom LeftBottom Right
Rankiteo is a unified scoring and risk platform that analyzes billions of signals weekly to help organizations gain faster, more actionable insights into emerging threats. Empowering teams to outpace adversaries and reduce exposure.
Users Love Us Badge