The State of Cybersecurity in the UK: A Growing Emergency

In a Ministerial Letter from the government on the 13^th of October, the UK government warned that cyber security threats are “growing more intense, frequent and sophisticated” and that it is causing “significant, financial and social harm to UK businesses and citizens”. Because of this, every organisation must act now on strengthening defences, no matter the sector or the size of your organisation, the government are calling for an “urgent collective response.”

In 2025, there has been a dramatic surge in cyberattacks, disrupting operations, halting production lines, and compromising all of our sensitive data. The most infamous attacks, such as Marks & Spencer, The Co-op, and Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrate how quickly cyber disruption can escalate into operational and financial losses.

Why Cyber Resilience Needs to Happen Now.

While the government said it’s enhancing our national defences, the letter is imploring businesses to take this as seriously as it is because businesses play such a vital role in protecting our economy and society. The guidance in this letter outlines three priorities for all organisations:

• Make Cyber Risk a Board-Level priority
  • The Cyber Governance Code of Practice sets out clear actions for effective oversight and response. Every organisation, not just those with dedicated IT teams, should ensure that cyber risk management is part of strategic and operational planning. Regularly rehearsing response and recovery plans can make the difference between quick recovery and long-term disruption.
• Sign Up for the NCSC’s Early Warning Service
  • This free government service provides timely alerts about potential threats to your network, helping teams detect and respond to suspicious activity before it escalates.
• Adopt and Promote Cyber Essentials
  • The Cyber Essentials certification remains a cornerstone of basic protection, helping organisations prevent common attacks and build confidence with clients and suppliers. Certified businesses are 92% less likely to make a cyber insurance claim, underscoring its value.

The Threat Landscape is Worsening

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)’s latest annual report reveals a record high in nationally significant cyber incidents, many traced back to state-sponsored groups from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Increasingly, attackers are focusing on the retail, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure sectors, with ransomware continuing to be the most disruptive and costly threat.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is further amplifying the challenge. Threat actors are now leveraging AI to automate reconnaissance, craft highly convincing phishing campaigns, and uncover system vulnerabilities with unprecedented speed. As AI transforms both attack and defence strategies, organisations must adapt continuously and invest proactively to stay ahead.

The NCSC is urging organisations to think beyond prevention, to prepare for how they would operate if IT systems went offline entirely. 
That means building resilience plans that go beyond digital recovery, including offline communication methods and even physical copies of critical procedures. 

Whilst “pen and paper” planning may sound old-fashioned, it has proven to be a pragmatic safeguard when digital systems are compromised. True resilience comes from understanding not only how to defend, but how to sustain and recover under pressure.

 How Fitzrovia IT Can Help?

At Fitzrovia IT, we help organisations turn cybersecurity policy into real-world practice. Working side by side with our clients, we strengthen resilience, tighten governance, and prepare businesses of every size for the realities of today’s state of cybersecurity.

As a Cyber Essentials Plus assessor and certified certification body, we provide impartial assurance that your organisation meets the highest recognised standards of cyber hygiene.

Our cybersecurity experts can support you to:

• Evaluate your current risk exposure and align with government-endorsed best practices.
• Achieve and sustain Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
• Develop, test, and refine your incident response and business continuity plans.
• Identify and manage new risks driven by AI-powered attacks.

True cyber resilience goes beyond technology; now it needs to be built on leadership, preparedness, and collaboration. Our goal is to help you anticipate, withstand, and recover from whatever challenges come your way.

Upcoming Event: Cybersecurity Leadership – Lessons from the Frontline

To help organisations navigate this complex landscape, Fitzrovia IT is hosting a dedicated leadership event on Thursday, 6th November:

Cybersecurity Leadership – Lessons from the Frontline

Join leading experts, executives, and security professionals for a deep dive into the latest threat intelligence, practical defence strategies, and real-world stories of recovery and resilience.

Spaces are filling up! Register your interest here.