The government has unveiled a new campaign to protect businesses from cyber threats which cost UK firms £14.7 billion a year.
The messaging, which wil appear across social media, podcasts, radio and business networks, urges small and medium sized businesses to engage with the Cyber Essentials scheme which outlines cyber security actions they can take.
With significant cyber incidents costing an average of £195,000 and half of small businesses suffering a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months, the government said all businesses need to protect themselves.
Developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Cyber Essentials focuses on firewalls, secure configuration, software updates, user access control and malware protection.
Eligible firms can also access free cyber insurance, including a 24/7 emergency helpline.
Cyber security minister Baroness Lloyd said:
“No business is out of reach from cyber criminals. SMEs play a vital role in our economy, and business 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 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.”
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 attackers don’t care about size, reputation or 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.”
New research published today shows the scale of the cyber threat facing UK businesses more broadly. It found that 82% of medium and large businesses suffered a cyber incident in the past year.