Ministers have warned entrepreneurs to take cyber safety significantly and shield their companies in opposition to assaults.
In an open letter to small companies and consultant organisations, digital economic system minister Liz Lloyd, small enterprise minister Blair McDougall and Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre chief govt Richard Horne stated “cyber exercise within the UK is rising extra intense, frequent and complex” with companies of all sizes in danger.
The letter cities information that reveals half of small companies within the UK have suffered a cyber assault within the earlier 12 months and 35% of micro companies reported phishing assaults.
Companies ought to reap the benefits of the federal government’s free cyber safety sources, it continued, together with the Cyber Motion Toolkit and Cyber Necessities, the certification scheme defending companies in opposition to widespread cyber assaults.
“Defending your corporation in opposition to a cyber assault is far much less onerous than having to select up the items after a devastating assault,” the letter stated.
“Good cyber safety empowers your corporation to develop confidently, safeguard buyer belief, and keep resilient within the face of evolving threats. You don’t must be a technical knowledgeable or have a big IT staff to place efficient protections in place.”
In October, the Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre stated it handled 204 “nationally important” cyber assaults in opposition to the UK within the 12 months to August 2025, a pointy improve from 89 within the earlier yr.
These are incidents which have a considerable affect on the UK’s nationwide safety, economic system or crucial infrastructure, together with threats to important providers, delicate information, or key authorities capabilities.
Richard Horne stated: “Cyber safety is now a matter of enterprise survival and nationwide resilience.”
