It’s a big number. The cyber attack on M&S is reportedly costing the retailer around £50 million every single day, hitting their trading, profits, share price and reputation hard. If you’re running a business in Kent, it’s worth asking yourself, what would happen if the core parts of your IT operation – your systems, website, servers or machines – suddenly went offline and were held to ransom? Attacks like this aren’t just targeting big names anymore. UK businesses of all sizes are now in the crosshairs.
Prompting this quick post, a business director called me this week concerned, asking whether the apparent growing cyber attacks on UK companies (i.e. Co-Op, Harrods, Smiths Group and IMI) should be a concern for businesses like hers. She also wanted to know what they should be doing as a minimum to protect themselves. I remember thinking, that was probably the best business move they made this quarter. I wanted to share what I responded.
To put it simply, if there was ever a wake-up call small businesses like here in Kent need, this is it.
Seeing first-hand the severe challenges attacks and breaches can bring; you should take cyber security as seriously as any area of your business. Its survival could depend on it; and, at the very least, you should ensure you have cyber-insurance in place as part of your regular business insurance policy. You should also know that it will only be valid if you have adequate and demonstrable basic IT security measure in place. Those without basic steps and measures are invalidating their ability to claim for recovery, lost trade and business continuity!
Explore our full range of Cyber Security Solutions to see how we safeguard companies right here in Kent.
Here’s what you can do today:
Having supported scores of companies in Kent who have come to us in the event of an incident, I see that SMEs need clearer context of what’s happening and the basic knowledge to make the right decisions.
So, here’s the background and hopefully three simple and clear takeaways for you:
Any business can be hacked.
Even yours. Even mine. Hackers are smart and constantly evolving their tactics. It’s not always about software – sometimes they simply trick people with a convincing email or phone call.
You might already be compromised.
Cyber criminals often get in and wait — watching, listening, stealing data or preparing a bigger attack. It’s not a question of if anymore, it’s when.
To be assured you need to be able to positively answer these three questions:
a. Do you have cyber insurance?
b. Do you meet the policy’s basic requirements?
c. Do you have a trusted IT partner who can help if something goes wrong?
Read more in Is your business insured against cyber attacks? The key to protecting yourself from data crime.
Supporting Business Across Kent, Like Yours
If you think cyber insurance is just for big firms like Marks and Spencer, think again. Small and medium sized businesses are targeted more often because they are easier to compromise.
When we are onboarding new clients, most either don’t have cyber insurance, or don’t realise their policy wouldn’t pay out if something happened.
One local firm had no multi-factor authentication (MFA) on their emails, even though their policy required it. Another was using free antivirus software that didn’t qualify as proper endpoint protection.
With attacks on the rise, insurers are tightening up, and rightly so. In both cases, they would have been on their own if they were attacked.
If you’re a business owner in Kent, you don’t need to become a cyber expert overnight. That’s where we come in.
Your personal IT experts
If you need help, I will personally come and speak to you and be one call away for help at any time. My team will also help when and where needed to:
- Review cyber insurance policies
- Audit current security setups
- Put essential protections in place
- Help you stay compliant, and prepared
Ready to uncover hidden risks? Book an IT Health Check and get a full audit of your systems.
We promise to keep it simple, proactive, and jargon-free. Contact Think Connect today.
