Cybersecurity guide for small businesses in the UK

Cyber risk research has revealed that one in five small businesses in the UK would be forced to close within three months if they experienced a cyber breach, with costs estimated at up to £100,000 in lost revenue and regulatory fines.

Whether you are a freelancer, consultant, or running a growing small business with multiple employees, adopting cybersecurity can help to protect your finances, customer relationships, and reputation.

Read our guide to cybersecurity for small businesses below to understand the common threats and which tools can help to strengthen your business’s cyber resilience.

Why cybersecurity for small businesses is important

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is changing the SME cybersecurity landscape. While AI tools can help organisations to defend against breaches, they are also making it easier for cybercriminals to make more convincing social-engineering campaigns and exploit vulnerabilities. Cyber-attacks are increasingly automated, rather than specifically targeted, as AI tools can scan large numbers of businesses for exposed data or weak access controls.

The assumption that a business is too small to be targeted can create a false sense of security, as smaller organisations may be attractive to attackers as they are more likely to have fewer resources available to detect and respond to incidents than large enterprises.

A cyber-attack can have consequences beyond the immediate financial impact, potentially causing operational disruption, data loss, regulatory issues, reputational damage, and the costs associated with investigating and recovering from an incident.

Common cyber threats facing small businesses

Understanding the most common threats can help you to identify where your business may be exposed.

Phishing

Phishing attacks are the most prevalent and disruptive type of breach used to compromise organisations, experienced by 38% of businesses and 25% of charities.

These attacks typically involve emails, text messages, or social media comments that are designed to appear as though they come from trusted parties such as colleagues, employers, suppliers, or customers. Attackers typically aim to persuade victims to disclose sensitive information, provide access to internal systems, or make fraudulent payments.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) that blocks users from accessing computer files or systems, often by encrypting data, until payment is made in exchange for restoring access. Businesses that store backups can still experience significant disruption while systems are investigated, secured, and restored.

Malware

Malware, such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses, can infiltrate business systems through infected downloads, compromised websites or email attachments, and can steal information, monitor activity, or open access to attackers.

Password attacks

Compromised passwords remain a common entry point into business accounts, with attackers often using stolen credentials from previous data breaches to attempt to access other services where the same passwords have been reused.

To learn more about whether your working practices could be putting your business at increased risk of cyber and data breaches, take our cyber risk assessment.

Practical cybersecurity measures for small businesses

A robust cybersecurity policy is about more than preventing attacks; it also involves creating processes that help a business to understand its risks, respond effectively to incidents and recover quickly if a breach does occur.

As threats continue to evolve, your small business can benefit from reviewing security arrangements regularly, rather than treating SME cybersecurity as a one-off exercise.

Learn more about measures small business owners can put in place in our guide on how to keep your SME cyber safe.

Cybersecurity tools for small businesses

There are tools and solutions available to support effective SME cybersecurity, designed to help businesses detect threats and respond quickly to suspicious activity.

Antivirus and endpoint software

Modern endpoint security protection can help defend the computers and tech devices you use in your business against infections from malware, ransomware, and other threats. Some software packages also include behavioural monitoring capabilities which can identify suspicious activity that traditional antivirus software could miss.

Firewalls

Firewalls monitor all network traffic that enters and exits business systems, helping to prevent unauthorised access whilst allowing legitimate communications. Many business routers include firewall protection, although organisations that have more complex networks might require additional support.

Password managers

Password managers can help business users create and store unique passwords securely across multiple accounts, helping to avoid insecure practices like reusing passwords and keeping them in files that malicious attackers could access. Password tools can also provide alerts if credentials appear in known data breaches.

Email security tools

Security solutions that are designed to monitor email accounts can help reduce the risks associated with phishing attacks by identifying suspicious messages, malicious attachments, and unsafe links before they reach employees’ inboxes.

Cloud backup services

Secure backup solutions can help businesses maintain copies of important information that can be restored following accidental deletion or hardware failure, as well as cyber-attacks.

Choosing small business cybersecurity software

Deciding which cybersecurity software to use can be challenging for small business owners as some solutions are designed for large enterprises with dedicated IT teams, whilst consumer antivirus products may not provide the level of management and protection some businesses need.

Typically, the aim is to find a solution that can provide strong protection without requiring extensive technical knowledge or ongoing manual management.

When comparing software products, consider whether they include features such as:

• Centralised management dashboards to monitor multiple devices
• Ransomware protection that can identify suspicious behaviour
• Patch management tools to ensure devices and applications are kept up to date
• Web and phishing protection to block access to malicious websites, links, and files
• Controls to manage the use of external devices such as mobile phones and USB drives to reduce the risk of infections

Cybersecurity software for small businesses

There are many cybersecurity products available for small businesses – the most appropriate choice for you will depend on a range of factors, such as the size of your business, your budget, the number of employees and devices you have, and whether you have internal IT expertise.

Examples of cybersecurity software for small businesses may include:

• Kaspersky Small Office Security: provides antivirus protection for business devices and includes features designed for smaller organisations.
• Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security: a cloud-based endpoint protection platform with centralised management capabilities.
• ESET Small Business Security: offers protection for businesses that have their own servers.
• Norton Small Business Premium: offers advanced data monitoring and analysis, and is effective at detecting dangerous and fraudulent websites.
• AVG Internet Security Business Edition: provides efficient remote control and management features through its online hub.

Government support and cybersecurity certification

The government provides several resources to help small business owners understand cyber risks and strengthen their defences:

NCSC diagnostic tools

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides free guidance and tools to help small businesses.

The Cyber Action Toolkit is designed to help organisations identify areas for improvement and create a tailored action plan, while the Check Your Cybersecurity Tool allows you to test your business’ online security, helping identify potential weaknesses that could affect your websites, email systems, and Internet-facing services.

Cyber Essentials certification

If you are looking to demonstrate to your customers, suppliers, or regulators that you have implemented recognised security controls for your business, the government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme provides a framework that is widely recognised.

The scheme sets out the minimum standard of cybersecurity the government recommends for organisations of all sizes, focusing on five key areas:

• Protecting devices from malware and other threats
• Keeping software and systems updated
• Controlling access to data and systems
• Securing Internet connections
• Using appropriate security settings

There are two certification levels: Cyber Essentials, which is a combination of a self-assessment and independent audit, and Cyber Essentials Plus, which adds an independent technical assessment to verify that controls are working effectively.

Combining practical security measures with recognised frameworks such as Cyber Essentials can provide a structured way to improve the cyber resilience of your small business and reduce risk.

For more guidance on improving your cyber defences, read our guide on how to protect your business from cyber-attacks.

Whilst security measures can help to minimise the risk of a cyber-attack, you may want to consider purchasing cyber insurance to provide financial protection in the event of a data breach

Frequently asked questions about cybersecurity for small businesses

Do small businesses need cybersecurity?

Yes, small businesses can be attractive targets for cybercriminals because they may have fewer security resources than larger organisations. As a result, implementing appropriate processes, technology solutions and staff awareness measures can help reduce cyber threats.

What cybersecurity tools do small businesses need?

The most effective tools for SME cybersecurity depend on the nature and size of the business. Many small businesses use a combination of endpoint protection, firewalls, email security, password management, and multifactor authentication.

Discover more help and guidance for professionals and read about how cyber insurance can help safeguard your business.

Please note: This article provides guidance for information purposes only and is accurate at the time of production. It should not be relied upon wholly when making or taking important business decisions – always seek the services of an appropriately qualified professional. The views expressed by websites referred to are limited to those of the websites, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Markel Direct. Markel Direct is not affiliated with any of the brands, companies or websites mentioned in this article.