The Alarming Reality of Cybersecurity: Protecting UK Businesses

Cybersecurity has become a pressing concern for businesses of all sizes in the UK, and the urgency to address this issue is more critical than ever. With the increasing frequency and devastating impact of cyber attacks, businesses need to be aware of the risks they face.

According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a staggering four in ten businesses (39%) and a quarter of charities (26%) reported experiencing cybersecurity breaches or attacks in the last 12 months. These numbers highlight the pervasive nature of cyber threats and the need for robust protective measures.

The City of London Police reveals a startling fact: cybercrime costs UK businesses an estimated £190 billion annually. This staggering financial burden underscores the significant impact of cyber attacks on businesses, which can range from financial losses to reputational damage.

These statistics paint a clear picture: cyberattacks are prevalent and expensive. Here are five tips to help UK business owners protect themselves:

Backup Your Data Regularly

Regularly backing up your data ensures you have a copy in case of a cyberattack or hardware failure. This allows you to restore your systems quickly and minimise downtime.

Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

We should all know this – don’t use the same easy password across everything. Implement strong, unique passwords for all accounts and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification code in addition to your password.

Keep Software Updated

Outdated software often contains vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. To patch these vulnerabilities, regularly update your operating systems, applications, and firmware.

Educate your team

Many UK businesses lack the in-house expertise to effectively manage their cybersecurity. Managed security service providers, like our IT team, provide various security solutions and expertise to help companies protect their data and systems.