UK Urges Small Businesses to ‘Lock the Door’ on Cybercrime

The UK government has launched a new cybersecurity campaign aimed at small and medium-sized businesses urging them to “lock the door” on cyber criminals as digital threats escalate.

The initiative — backed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) as the government’s Cyber Essentials scheme — is designed to deliver practical steps businesses can take to protect themselves from common online dangers.

“Appearing across social media, podcasts, radio and business networks, the campaign aims to reach busy small and medium sized businesses where they are,” according to a press release. “It will encourage them to engage with the government’s Cyber Essentials scheme which sets out clear practical steps they can take to protect themselves from the most common cyber attacks. This includes keeping software up to date and controlling who has access to accounts and data to immediately boost their cyber resilience.”

The rising tide of cybercrime targeting small businesses

The UK’s push comes as new figures show the scale of threat businesses face.

·      Cyber threats cost UK businesses an estimated £14.7 billion per year

·      Significant cyber incidents cost an average of £195,000

·      Half of all small businesses have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months.

Businesses certified under the government’s Cyber Essentials scheme saw 92% fewer insurance claims last year — a powerful indicator that the protections work.

And adoption of Cyber Essentials among larger companies has risen from 23% to 30%, “reflecting a growing understanding of the need for basic cyber protections,” the press release says.

The campaign focus

The government campaign doesn’t push technical jargon or complex frameworks. Instead, it focuses on straightforward actions that even non-technical business owners can implement, such as:

·      Keep software up to date

·      Control access to accounts and sensitive data

·      Install proper malware protection

·      Use secure configurations and firewalls

Cyber Security Minister Baroness Lloyd said:

I know smaller firms don’t have 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 specialist expertise. Cyber risk is business risk, just like fire or theft, and the protections are just as essential. I urge businesses to take action and adopt Cyber Essentials now.

If you own a small business, act now!

Many small business leaders still assume that cyber criminals only target big brands. But the facts tell another story: attackers look for easy opportunities, not logos. Without even the most basic protections, any business, regardless of size, can become a victim.

If you’re a small business owner in the UK, you might want to invest in proactive defenses that nip the cybersecurity issue in the bud.

For protection tailored to the needs of small businesses, Bitdefender offers a comprehensive package called Ultimate Small Business Security. You get:

·      Security for all devices typically found in a small business (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows Server)

·      World-class antivirus protection

·      Protection against targeted scams and fraud

·      Email protection (Outlook, Gmail)

·      Unlimited VPN traffic

·      Account breach protection

·      Protection against exposure online (data, identity)

·      Password manager

Even non-technical people can deploy and manage the solution – no dedicated IT personnel required. Simply monitor and adjust settings easily from one user-friendly dashboard.

See our solution in action here.

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