{"id":3845,"date":"2025-07-21T15:08:41","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T14:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/\/\/\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T16:17:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:17:14","slug":"ransomware-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"standard-post-filter","link":"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials\/insights\/ransomware-on-the-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Ransomware on the Rise: Why UK Businesses Must Take Cyber Security Seriously"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The UK is experiencing a surge in cybercrime, with ransomware attacks reaching unprecedented levels. New figures from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025\/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025<\/a> reveal that cyber threats are not only more frequent, they\u2019re also becoming more sophisticated and damaging.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you\u2019re a business owner or decision-maker, these developments aren\u2019t just headlines &#8211; they\u2019re a major warning sign and a direct call to action. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cx2gx28815wo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">As the BBC reports, the simplest of failures can bring down the biggest of businesses.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<h2>Why You Should Be Taking Action Now<\/h2>\r\n<p>According to the UK Government\u2019s latest data:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Around<b> 19,000 UK businesses<\/b> were hit by ransomware in the past 12 months &#8211; <b>double the previous year<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>High-profile organisations such as <b>M&amp;S, the Co-op, and Harrods<\/b> have all suffered significant breaches.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Even trusted public bodies like the <b>British Library<\/b> have been victims, with attackers exploiting third-party access and inadequate multi-factor authentication.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>What\u2019s driving this surge? In part, the growing use of <b>AI-powered attack tools<\/b>, which make sophisticated cybercrime easier and more scalable than ever before.<\/p>\r\n<p><b>The cost of a cyber-attack<\/b> is no longer just financial. There\u2019s reputational damage, operational downtime, and the potential for regulatory penalties, particularly under GDPR and upcoming legislation mandating faster <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials\/insights\/when-to-report-a-data-breach-to-the-ico\/\">breach reporting<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<h2>10 Practical Steps to Protect Your Business From Cyber crime<\/h2>\r\n<p>Good cyber security isn\u2019t just about reacting to threats. It\u2019s about building resilience from the ground up. Here are ten practical actions every UK organisation can take immediately:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><b>Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)<\/b> across all systems and users.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Maintain secure, offline backups<\/b> of critical data, and test them regularly.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Apply software updates and patches promptly<\/b> to close known vulnerabilities.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Use next-generation antivirus and endpoint protection tools<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Train staff regularly<\/b> on <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials\/training\/phishing-course\/\" rel=\"noopener\">phishing<\/a>, impersonation, and other social engineering attacks.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Enforce least privilege access<\/b>, ensuring employees can only access what they need.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Segment your network<\/b> to contain the spread of potential breaches.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Create and test an incident response plan<\/b>, specifically covering ransomware.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Review and update your cyber insurance<\/b> and business continuity plans.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Engage senior leadership<\/b>, with regular updates on cyber risks and mitigation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<h2>Certification: Building Confidence Through Best Practice<\/h2>\r\n<p>While technical controls are essential, third-party certifications provide an added layer of assurance, both internally and externally. Whether you&#8217;re bidding for contracts, working with public sector clients, or simply looking to improve internal governance, certification is a powerful trust signal.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here\u2019s how the three most recognised cyber security frameworks in the UK compare:<\/p>\r\n<table class=\"dcf-table dcf-table-responsive dcf-table-bordered dcf-table-striped dcf-w-100%\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"col\"><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Certification<\/span><\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\"><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Benefits<\/span><\/th>\r\n<th scope=\"col\"><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Considerations<\/span><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials\/\"><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\"><b>Cyber Essentials<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/th>\r\n<td data-label=\"Benefits\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Covers basic controls (firewalls, updates, MFA)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Quick to achieve<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Government-backed<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Often required in tenders<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Lowest cost<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td data-label=\"Considerations\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Entry-level<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Self-assessed<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Renews annually<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials-plus\/\"><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\"><b>Cyber Essentials Plus<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/th>\r\n<td data-label=\"Benefits\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Government-backed<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Stronger technical assessment<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Provides greater assurance<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td data-label=\"Considerations\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Higher cost<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Independently verified<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Renews annually<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th scope=\"row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/iso-27001\/\"><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\"><b>ISO 27001<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/th>\r\n<td data-label=\"Benefits\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Internationally recognised<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Comprehensive, audited framework<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Supports global growth and supply chains<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Simplifies tender processes<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td data-label=\"Considerations\">\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Requires dedicated resources<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Complex implementation<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Long-term commitment<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-family: montserrat, palatino, serif;\">Renews annually<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<h2>Getting Started With Cyber Security Certification<\/h2>\r\n<p>At British Assessment Bureau, we help organisations of all sizes take control of their cyber security journey. If you want to <b>demonstrate best practice to customers and regulators<\/b>, we\u2019re here to support you.<\/p>\r\n<p>With the threat landscape evolving rapidly, there\u2019s never been a more critical time to act.<\/p>\r\n<h2>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n<h2>Ready To Protect Your Business?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Get in touch with our expert team to discuss how we can support your journey to <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials\/certification\/\">Cyber Essentials<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/cyber-essentials-plus\/certification\/\">Cyber Essentials Plus<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/standards\/iso-27001\/\">ISO 27001<\/a> certification.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/certification-quote\/\">Request a quote<\/a> today or <a href=\"https:\/\/amtivo.com\/uk\/contact-us\/\">contact us<\/a> to discuss your options.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ransomware is rising in the UK. Protect your business with simple steps and trusted certifications.","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":3874,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"standard-post-categories":[31],"standard-post-tags":[32,86],"class_list":["post-3845","standard-post-filter","type-standard-post-filter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","standard-post-categories-insights","standard-post-tags-cyber-essentials","standard-post-tags-cyber-essentials-plus"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ransomware on the Rise: Why UK Businesses Must Act Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UK businesses face a ransomware surge. 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