Small and medium-sized companies within the UK have been urged by ministers to be proactive about cybersecurity to keep away from the doubtless devastating influence of a profitable assault.
In a letter directed to the UK’s entrepreneurs and small enterprise house owners, Liz Lloyd, the minister for digital economic system, Blair McDougall, the minister for small enterprise and financial transformation and NCSC boss Richard Horne warned of the the hazard they face.
“The threats posed by cyber assaults have by no means been extra obvious,” the letter mentioned.
“Current high-profile incidents exhibit how hostile cyber exercise within the UK is rising extra intense, frequent and complex. Companies of all sizes are struggling the implications.”
Based on figures cited by the ministers, as many as half of small companies within the UK report having suffered a cyber assault up to now 12 months, whereas 35% of micro companies reported phishing assaults.
“Whether or not you’re a sole dealer, working a rising enterprise, or main an bold start-up, you’re prone to falling sufferer to cyber crime which may disrupt your operations.”
The letter urged preparation, noting that “defending your online business in opposition to a cyber assault is far much less onerous than having to choose up the items after a devastating assault”.
Companies have been inspired to discover the federal government’s Cyber Motion Toolkit, a free cyber answer developed by the NCSC.
“We perceive cyber safety could also be formidable to many small companies,” the letter mentioned.
“Collectively, we are able to construct a extra resilient enterprise group that is able to meet the cyber challenges we face.”
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