Why most UK businesses still aren't prepared for cyber attacks

Ask most mid-sized businesses in the UK if they're aware of cyberattacks, and you'll likely hear a resounding "yes". 

Cybersecurity is everywhere: headlines, board meetings and industry reports. Yet, if you ask what they’re actually doing differently, the answer tends to fall awkwardly silent. 

Recent cyberattacks on high-street giants like Harrods, Marks & Spencer, and Co-op have shown that no company is immune. Still, many medium-sized businesses seem to be stuck in a dangerous comfort zone - aware but inactive.

So why aren't more businesses taking action?

Awareness isn't action

Awareness of cyber threats has surged. Businesses know they’re at risk but mistakenly believe that awareness alone offers protection. Too many assume their existing setups are secure or that someone else, whether their IT department or software providers are dealing with it.

Yet, reality paints a different picture. Businesses often run outdated software, lack basic security measures or haven't reviewed their systems in years. Businesses assume their IT providers have security covered, but unless explicitly tested and regularly reviewed, that assumption can cost them dearly. 

Dangerous myths

Common misconceptions reinforce this complacency:

“We’re too small to target.” 

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting mid-sized businesses precisely because they're often underprepared and poorly protected. Data from NordLocker shows that companies with just 11–50 employees now face as many ransomware attacks as some large enterprises.

“It's only the giant companies that get attacked.” 

There's then the belief that cybercriminals only go after the biggest targets. But that simply isn’t true. You can get ransomware on any size company - even a one-person operation. Attackers are often opportunistic, demanding small payments in large volumes.

The problem is, many businesses tend to keep breaches under wraps. They don’t want the public, or their competitors, to know. So while it may feel like no one around you is being hit, the reality is, you just don’t hear about it. And that lack of visibility only reinforces the misconception that it’s not happening.

"We don’t have anything valuable to steal." 

Many businesses underestimate the value of their data or operations. Even if your data seems insignificant, attackers understand that any operational disruption can force businesses into paying ransoms to resume normal operations.

These myths fuel a false sense of security, dangerously widening the gap between perception and reality.

The double-edged sword of digital transformation

Digitising operations is no longer optional; it's essential for competitiveness. Over 85% of UK fulfilment warehouses will be automated by 2030, according to Warehouse & Logistics News. This rapid digitisation offers enormous operational benefits - speed, efficiency and growth.

However, with increased digitisation comes increased vulnerability. More data stored in digital environments means more potential points of attack. Recognising this reality doesn’t diminish the importance of digital transformation; rather, it emphasises the necessity of embedding robust cybersecurity measures into every digitisation strategy.

Taking practical steps

The good news? Becoming better prepared doesn’t mean radically overhauling your entire IT infrastructure overnight. It starts with small, achievable steps:

• Upgrade to the latest software versions regularly.
• Implement routine security checks, like the UK's Cyber Essentials scheme.
• Ask tough questions to your IT or cloud providers about their security measures.
• Run regular training sessions for staff to reduce risks from phishing emails and malicious links.

Being proactive isn't complex, it’s about consistency and making cybersecurity part of the operational mindset.

It’s time to move from talk to action

Cybersecurity isn't just an IT problem, it's an operational reality. Waiting until an attack happens isn’t an option. Instead, businesses need to match their cybersecurity awareness with meaningful, proactive action.

If your organisation is still at the “aware-but-inactive” stage, ask yourself one question: what specific action will you take today to ensure your business isn't tomorrow's headline?