5 Key Cyber Threats Every Business Should Know
Cyber‑crime is no longer the preserve of major multinationals. Smaller and mid‑sized businesses face real threats – often with fewer resources to respond.
- Phishing & Business‑Email Compromise (BEC)
A common approach where attackers impersonate legitimate contacts to trick staff into revealing credentials or transferring funds. - Ransomware / Malware attacks
Malicious software that encrypts or holds your data hostage: the cost isn’t just the ransom, but downtime, reputational harm and recovery costs. - Social engineering
Attackers may manipulate people rather than systems – e.g., posing as service desk, supplier or trusted partner. - Data breach / exfiltration
Attackers could steal personal or business‑critical data: this triggers regulatory, legal and brand risks. - Supply‑chain / vendor compromise
Your systems may be secure – but your vendors or partners might not be. Attackers can often exploit weaker links.
Practical Tips You Could Consider to Help Minimise Risk
- Conduct a staff awareness session at least once per year.
- Review access controls and minimise privileged accounts.
- Keep backups off‑site and test recovery.
- Ask your suppliers: how do they secure our data? When was their last audit?
These are just a few examples out of many steps you could consider to help keep your business safe online.
Conclusion
These aren’t theoretical possibilities – they are happening now, to UK organisations large and small. Strengthening cyber resilience is a strategic business need, not just an IT issue.
Brown & Brown are committed to helping you arrange insurance solutions for a range of eventualities.