LONDON, Feb. 17 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
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New campaignsupportsbusiness owners to protect themselves against cyber threats to safeguard jobs and growth
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Cyber threats cost UK businesses £14.7 billionayear, withhalfofsmallfirmsexperiencing onein thelast12 months
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More large firms aretaking action, but government wantsto helpbusinesses of every size to move further and faster by putting protections in place
Business owners are being urged to "lock the door" on criminals as the UK government launches a new campaigntoprovidepracticalwaysfor organisations to protect themselves from common online threats.
Appearing across social media,podcasts,radio and business networks, the campaign aims to reach busy small and medium sized businesseswhere they are.It willencourage them to engagewith the government's Cyber Essentials scheme which sets out clear practical steps they can taketo protect themselves from the most commoncyber attacks.This includes keeping software up to date and controlling who has access to accounts and data toimmediatelyboost their cyber resilience. Many cyber incidents exploit these basic weaknesses, which Cyber Essentials is designed toprotect against.
It comes as new figures show the scale of threat facing businesses. Significant cyber incidents cost an average of £195,000and half of all small businesses have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months.
Last year, 92% fewer insurance claims were made by organisations with Cyber Essentials in place- proving it works. Certification can also help businesses win government contracts, and eligible firms can accessfreecyber insurance, includinga 24/7 emergency helpline, provided by the CyberEssentials delivery partner.
With cyber threats estimated to cost UK businesses £14.71billion every year the campaign will help to protect the growththat'sfundamental to job creation, improving living standards and the funding of public services.
Cyber Security Minister Baroness Lloyd said:
No business is out of reach from cyber criminals.SMEs play a vital role in our economy, andbusiness owners work incredibly hard to build something valuable, but too many still assume cyber criminals only go after big brands. The reality is criminals look for easy opportunities, and without basic protections in place, any business of any size can become a target.
I know smaller firmsdon'thave large IT teams, and that is exactly why Cyber Essentials matters. It provides a straightforward checklist to lock the door on cyber criminals, without needing specialistexpertise. Cyber risk is business risk, just like fire or theft, and the protections are just as essential. I urge businesses totake actionand adopt Cyber Essentials now.
Developed by experts at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Cyber Essentials focuses on 5 key protections:
* firewalls
* secure configuration
* software updates
* user access control
* malware protection
It gives businesses clear, practicalstepsto followhelpingthem show customers and suppliers they take cyber security seriously.
For many firms, a single significant attack could be the difference between staying in business and closing their doors. To help businesses get started, the campaign highlights several free tools and resources:
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Cyber Essentials Readiness Tool - an online self‑assessment toidentifygaps
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Free 30‑minute consultations with an NCSC‑assured cyber advisorfor SMEs that are preparing for Cyber Essentials certification.
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The chance to preview the Cyber Essentials 'Question Set' for free. The 'Requirements for IT Infrastructure' can be used alongside to help businessesidentifyifthey'reready for certification.
New researchpublished today also reveals the scale of the cyber threat facing UK businesses more broadly. TheCyber Security Longitudinal Surveyshows 82% of medium and large businesses suffered a cyber incident in the past year - meaning no business, regardless of size, is out of reach from cyber criminals.
More organisations are recognising the benefits oftaking action. Adoption of Cyber Essentials among larger companies has risen from 23% to 30%, reflecting a growing understanding of the need for basic cyber protections.
With uptake improving among larger firms,there is clear momentum but more still needs to be done.Thiscampaign is targeted atsmallerbusinesses,encouraging themtoadopt baseline protections like Cyber Essentials, strengthening supply‑chain security while supporting SME resilience, continuity, and long‑term growth.
NCSC CEO Dr Richard Horne said:
Many small business owners assume their business is too small to be on cyber criminals' radar,but in reality,we know most attackersdon'tcare about size,reputationor logos - they are looking for opportunity and weaknesses.
Small businesses do not need to go to the ends of the earth to put baseline cyber security measures in place as the Cyber Essentials scheme can help them take practical steps today.
I urge all businesses to implement the five key security controls to help protect themselves against the most common, damaging online threats.
Alongside this campaign, the government is strengthening cyber resilience across the economy through the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. The Bill will update and strengthen the UK's cyber resilience framework for essential and digital services and key suppliers, helping protect the services people rely on every day, from energy and water to healthcare and data centres. Stronger defences throughout supply chains will reduce the risk of disruption fromcyber attacksand help keep vital services running.
Notes to editors
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More information is available at theCyber Essentialswebsite.
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See the latest Cyber Security Longitudinal Survey results.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
