The British Library suffered a cyber attack last year—here’s why it was so impactful

The exterior of The British Library, a sandstone building with "The British Library" carved above its entrance, with a metal gate moulded to say "British Library" repeatedly beneath it. Some people, blurred due to long exposure, walk in front of the library.

If you keep up with the latest ransomware news, or if you’re interested in any of the 170 million items that the British Library holds, you may have heard about the ransomware attack it suffered in 2023. This hugely impactful attack, which the library is still recovering from, serves as a hugely important reminder of the damage ransomware can do.

The British Library has now published a report covering the incident, helping us understand what happened, and the consequences. In this article, I’ll explore what we can learn from the ransomware attack against the British Library.