UKC3 has welcomed a new Ministerial letter urging small businesses to take cyber security more seriously in the wake of high-profile attacks on major UK companies.
The letter, signed by Liz Lloyd CBE, Minister for Digital Economy, warns that hostile cyber activity is becoming ‘more intense, frequent and sophisticated’ – and that organisations of every size are now potential targets.
Recent incidents at companies including Marks & Spencer and Jaguar Land Rover underline the scale of the risk, with the JLR attack in August contributing to a 24% year-on-year revenue drop in its second quarter after production was halted for around five weeks.
The letter, co-signed by Richard Horne, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Blair McDougall, the Small Business Minister, highlights that half of UK small businesses have reported a cyber attack in the past 12 months, while 35% of micro businesses have experienced phishing attacks.
To help firms ‘stay resilient in the face of evolving threats’, ministers are directing SMEs to the free Cyber Action Toolkit.
This online resource from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) offers a simple, step-by-step way for organisations to strengthen their defences against email compromise, data breaches and ransomware, with personalised guidance and progress tracking.
The letter also encourages businesses to work towards Cyber Essentials, the UK’s recognised minimum cyber security standard, which demonstrates protection against the most common attacks.
UKC3 co-chair, Dr Ismini Vasileiou, said: “This letter is a clear reminder that cyber risk is a board-level issue for every organisation, not just large enterprises.
“Small businesses are deeply woven into national supply chains and local economies, so when they are hit, the impact ripples far beyond a single company.
“Practical tools like the Cyber Action Toolkit and schemes such as Cyber Essentials give SMEs a realistic, affordable way to start improving their resilience today – and UKC3’s cluster network stands ready to help them turn that guidance into action on the ground.”
