Category: Cyber Security

Beyond the Immediate Financial Loss When a data breach occurs, the cost that makes the headlines is usually the fine or the ransom. But the full financial impact runs considerably deeper, and for a smaller business, the indirect costs are often the harder ones to absorb. Research indicates the average cost of a data breach for a...

Why SMEs Are in the Crosshairs Small and medium-sized businesses are disproportionately targeted by cyber criminals. The reason is straightforward: attackers expect limited investment in security, no dedicated IT resource, and staff who have not had formal cyber awareness training. All of that makes an SME a lower-effort target than a large enterprise with a dedicated...

The Problem Has Not Gone Away Despite years of warnings, weak passwords remain widespread across businesses of every size. Research consistently finds that the most common business password is still “123456”, followed closely by “password”, “qwerty123”, and variations on the same predictable themes. These are not just lazy choices. They are exploitable vulnerabilities. A password that can...

The Cost of Delay Research shows that over two-thirds of businesses take more than 24 hours to address critical security vulnerabilities once they have been identified. In cyber security terms, 24 hours is a long time. Attackers scan for known vulnerabilities continuously and move quickly once they find one. Every hour a weakness remains unpatched is...

A Scam That Bypasses the Usual Defences Microsoft has flagged a growing wave of attacks using a technique called device code phishing. Unlike traditional phishing, which tries to steal your password via a fake login page, device code phishing uses a genuine Microsoft login screen. There are no suspicious URLs, no fake forms, and everything looks...

If you supply services to manufacturers, legal firms or public sector organisations in the North West, there is a reasonable chance that Cyber Essentials certification will appear in your next contract renewal. Not as a recommendation. As a requirement. The shift has been gradual but it is now visible. Larger businesses in the region, particularly those...