Cyber threats are no longer just a concern for big corporations—they’re a daily reality for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. The past year has seen a sharp rise in cyber incidents, with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reporting a 130% increase in serious attacks. These aren’t just data breaches—they’re business-stopping events that can cripple operations, damage reputations, and drain finances.

Household names like Jaguar Land Rover and Marks & Spencer have fallen victim to sophisticated cyberattacks. JLR’s breach disrupted production for weeks and impacted thousands of suppliers, while M&S faced months of online service outages due to ransomware. If these well-resourced players can be compromised, SMEs, often with small IT teams where they have no resources at all, are even more vulnerable.

Yet many SMEs still underestimate the risk. While 74% of large businesses reported cyber incidents last year, nearly half of SMEs did too. Phishing remains the most common entry point, but ransomware and supply chain attacks are seeing a dramatic rise. And the financial impact is growing: the average cost of a serious breach for UK businesses now exceeds £8,000, not including reputational damage or lost customers.

Despite this, cybersecurity often gets sidelined in budget planning. Many SMEs still lack basic protections like multi-factor authentication, endpoint detection, or adequate email security. This needs to change.

Cybersecurity must become a core part of your business strategy—not just an IT issue or something you assume “my IT company does all that”.

Here’s why:

• Downtime is expensive. A single ransomware attack can halt operations for days or weeks. Can your business afford that?
• Customer trust is fragile. A breach can erode confidence and lead to lost contracts or regulatory fines.
• Cyber insurance isn’t a safety net. Many policies now require proof of robust security measures before paying out.

The UK government is urging businesses to take action, introducing the Cyber Governance Code of Practice to help leaders treat cybersecurity as a board-level priority. For SMEs, this means allocating budget not just for hardware and software, but for ongoing training, monitoring, and incident response planning.

What can SMEs do right now?

• Audit your current security setup. Identify gaps and risks.
• Invest in essentials. Next-Gen Anti-virus, Endpoint and Identity detection and response (EDR), quality email security, and immutable backup solutions are non-negotiable.
• Train your team. Human error is still the biggest vulnerability (75% of breaches are due to human error).
• Plan for the worst. Have a recovery plan in place before you need it.

Cyber threats aren’t going away. If anything, they’re becoming more targeted and disruptive. For SMEs, the message is clear: cybersecurity isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Budget for it, plan for it, and treat it as a vital part of your business’s future. Don’t just blindly trust your IT company, talk to experts.