Nearly half of UK businesses faced a cyber attack in 2025 – Are you prepared?  | Optimum Skills

The way we work has changed and so have the ways criminals try to attack. With more businesses relying on digital tools, online services, and cloud-based storage, hackers now have even more opportunities to target your private information. The most common threat is phishing: fake emails designed to trick staff into handing over passwords or clicking dangerous links. In fact, phishing attacks made up 85% of cyber breaches reported by UK businesses last year, highlighting the urgent need for cyber security training for everyone in your company, not just your IT team.

But phishing isn’t the only risk. Attacks using malware, ransomware, or exploiting weak passwords can cause chaos, lock you out of your own files, or cost a fortune to fix. More sophisticated threats are also emerging, including AI-powered scams and impersonation attempts that can trick even very careful staff. This rise in criminal creativity is why keeping up understanding through regular cyber security training is vital.

Cyber security breaches are not only disruptive – they’re expensive. The 2025 survey found that the average cost of the most disruptive breach was £1,600 for a business. When looking only at breaches with a financial cost, that figure jumps to £3,550 per business. For some, costs can rise much higher, especially if sensitive customer information is lost or services are disrupted for days or weeks. Even if you think “it won’t happen to me,” remember: a single successful attack could damage your reputation, destroy trust, and even close your business for good.

What’s more, the impact isn’t just financial. Dealing with the aftermath of a breach takes up valuable time. Businesses report spending hours responding to incidents, investigating the damage, restoring files, and briefing customers or regulators. The emotional toll and stress on your team is real, especially if the attack could have been prevented with the right awareness and training.

If you think you’re alone in worrying about these risks, think again. Forward-thinking businesses across the UK are already taking action to safeguard their futures. One of the fastest-growing trends is the uptake of cyber insurance – with 62% of small businesses now insured, up from 49% in 2024. This shows just how seriously UK SMEs are treating cyber threats.

But insurance is just one part of a robust digital defence. Successful businesses know that the best way to avoid losses is by preventing attacks before they start. That means investing in up-to-date technology, secure cloud backups, firewalls, strong password policies, and, most importantly, ongoing staff training to keep everyone alert to the latest scams and attacks. Remember, even the best cyber security systems can’t help if your people don’t know how to spot suspicious emails or follow simple safety steps.

Cyber security training gives every member of your team the knowledge and confidence to spot threats and act fast. When your staff know how to recognise a dodgy email, avoid weak passwords, and follow safe online practices, your whole business becomes harder to attack. Plus, good training means your team can respond quickly to incidents, minimising damage and reducing downtime.

• Nearly half of UK businesses (43%) were hit by a cyber attack last year, with more than 600,000 companies facing disruption, data theft, and significant financial losses.
• The average cost of a serious cyber breach has jumped to over £3,500 per incident – enough to threaten the survival of many small businesses and cause major damage to larger ones.
• While 62% of small businesses now have cyber insurance, it is no guarantee of safety; many insured firms are still targeted and suffer breaches.
• Phishing remains the dominant threat, responsible for 85% of successful cyber breaches. Without proper staff training to spot these scams, businesses remain highly vulnerable.

Ignoring these critical warnings could cost your business far more than money, it could risk your reputation, customer trust, and risk shutting your doors permanently.

Source: Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, DSIT and Home Office

October is the ideal time to act. Our expert-led Cyber Security Courses are designed for UK businesses of all sizes, focusing on practical skills that work in real life. Don’t wait until it’s your company making the headlines for the wrong reasons. By booking a Cyber Security Course today, you’re not only protecting your business – you’re protecting your staff, your customers, and your reputation.

Book your place now and give your business the confidence, skills, and resilience to face whatever the digital world brings. Being prepared is the best defence.