NALC supports over 1,000 parish and town councils to move to .gov.uk domains
The Government Digital Service (GDS) has celebrated a significant step forward in strengthening digital security across parish and town councils, as more than 1,000 parish and town councils have now moved to their own .gov.uk domain.
The achievement reflects our close collaboration between the Parish Council Domains Helper Service, which has played a pivotal role in championing the importance of secure, trusted digital practice across the sector. We have helped raise awareness of the benefits of .gov.uk domains, encouraged councils to adopt more secure digital standards, and provided a vital link between councils and the Parish Council Domains Helper Service.
The Parish Council Domains Helper Service has also won the Digital Transformation Project of the Year at the UK IT Industry Awards. It was a highly competitive category, and the award recognises not only the impact of the service on improving professionalism and cybersecurity across the sector, but also the meaningful digital change made possible through collaboration and the many councils that have embraced transformation to serve their residents better.
This milestone arrives at a crucial moment, as the National Cyber Security Centre's latest Annual Review urges all organisations to treat cybersecurity as a priority. Smaller organisations, including parish and town councils, have often assumed they are unlikely to be targeted. However, cyber criminals focus on vulnerabilities rather than size or sector, meaning every organisation with digital systems must plan for and invest in managing cyber risks. With our support, the Parish Council Domains Helper Service has been able to help councils take practical, proactive steps to reduce these risks.
A .gov.uk domain is a significant part of this effort, offering strong security protections backed by the government. All .gov.uk domains are automatically enrolled into a free protection service that identifies threats and vulnerabilities so they can be fixed before they are exploited. Registrars approved to set up .gov.uk domains must also meet rigorous security criteria, ensuring councils benefit from robust, reliable systems and enhancing overall sector resilience.
Using .gov.uk email addresses further protects communities by reducing the risk of phishing. Criminals cannot create .gov.uk email accounts, meaning residents can trust communications from their council. In contrast, free email accounts can be made by anyone, including those seeking to impersonate councils or councillors. Councils using .gov.uk addresses therefore help their communities identify legitimate messages and stay safe online.
Councils wishing to learn more can sign up to a free virtual Parish Council Helper Service workshop, read the latest guidance on moving to a .gov.uk domain, or explore the National Cyber Security Centre's resources for small organisations.
