10 Cybersecurity Steps for a Safer UK Business Future in 2026

CyberSecurity London: 10 Essential Steps for City of London (EC1–EC4) Firms in 2026

The City of London remains a prime target for financially motivated cyber crime. From ransomware and business email compromise to supply‑chain exploits, attackers follow the money — and that means firms around Bank, Moorgate, Liverpool Street and Monument are under constant pressure. Traditional IT support alone is no longer sufficient; modern firms need a risk‑based, standards‑aligned cyber security approach that stands up to client and regulator scrutiny.

This page outlines a practical, board‑ready set of actions for London organisations — especially those in financial and professional services — to strengthen security in 2026. Each step references Cyber Essentials / Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO/IEC 27001 so you can evidence alignment as you improve.

What London businesses are asking About Cybersecurity in 2026

• How do we secure employee access and privileged accounts without slowing the business down?
• Which cyber security policies are essential and how do we keep them practical?
• How can we detect and contain threats quickly — during and outside business hours?
• What training actually changes behaviour (not just ticks a box)?
• How do we simplify patching and third‑party risk without adding admin?
• What does Zero Trust really mean for a City firm with hybrid work?
• Do we still need VPNs, or should we move to identity‑based access?
• How do DMARC, SPF and DKIM reduce email fraud risk?
• How do we verify sensitive payment or data requests to stop social engineering?

10 Cyber Security Steps for UK Businesses in 2026 (City of London Focus)

Implement these measures to reduce risk, demonstrate due diligence and support client assurance. Each item includes quick mapping to Cyber Essentials and ISO/IEC 27001.

1. Enforce Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere — Mandate MFA for email, VPN/remote access, admin portals, finance systems and any third‑party SaaS. Prioritise phishing‑resistant factors for high‑risk roles (finance, execs, IT/admins).
   Cyber Essentials: User Access Control, Malware Protection. ISO/IEC 27001: Controls on identity & access (e.g., A.5, A.8, A.9 – least privilege, strong auth).
2. Make patching predictable (OS, apps, firmware) — Operate a monthly patch window with emergency out‑of‑band updates for high‑severity issues. Include browsers, plugins, device drivers, firewall/EDR agents and SaaS where applicable.
   Cyber Essentials: Security Update Management. ISO/IEC 27001: Vulnerability management & change control (e.g., A.5, A.8).
3. Eliminate password reuse and weak secrets — Enforce unique passwords, minimum length, and breach checks (e.g., via SSO/IdP). Provide an approved password manager and disable legacy/basic auth where possible.
   Cyber Essentials: Secure Configuration, User Access Control. ISO/IEC 27001: Authentication management (A.8/A.9).
4. Protect endpoints with EDR and device hygiene — Standardise builds, apply device compliance checks (encryption, lock, OS version) and deploy EDR across laptops, desktops and mobiles. Monitor remote devices and block non‑compliant endpoints by policy.
   Cyber Essentials: Malware Protection, Secure Configuration. ISO/IEC 27001: Asset & endpoint security (A.5/A.8).
5. Adopt Zero Trust and least privilege — Assume no user or device is trusted by default. Gate access on identity, device health, location and risk. Segment critical finance and client systems; review privileged roles quarterly.
   Cyber Essentials: User Access Control, Firewalls. ISO/IEC 27001: Access control & network segregation (A.8/A.9).
6. Secure remote access (VPN + conditional access) — Retain VPN where required but enforce MFA and modern encryption. Where feasible, use identity‑aware proxies and conditional access to reduce always‑on VPN exposure.
   Cyber Essentials: Firewalls & Internet Gateways, Secure Configuration. ISO/IEC 27001: Network security & remote working (A.5/A.8).
7. 24/7 detection with MDR — MDR provides continuous monitoring, triage and response when your team is offline. Integrate endpoint, identity and email telemetry to accelerate containment and reduce dwell time.
   Cyber Essentials: Supports overall control efficacy; evidence for CE/CE Plus. ISO/IEC 27001: Monitoring, event logging and incident response (A.5/A.8/A.16).
8. Harden email with DMARC, SPF and DKIM — Implement DMARC with “p=reject” when ready, and continuously monitor reports. Train staff to spot business email compromise (BEC), especially around payment instructions.
   Cyber Essentials: Malware & configuration controls for email. ISO/IEC 27001: Communication security & anti‑spoofing (A.8/A.9).
9. Make awareness training continuous and contextual — Quarterly micro‑learning and realistic phishing simulations beat once‑a‑year courses. Tailor content for finance teams, front‑office, partners and senior leadership.
   Cyber Essentials: Supports user‑centric controls. ISO/IEC 27001: Competence & awareness (A.6).
10. Verify sensitive requests every time — For changes to payment details, executive approvals or data exports, use a second channel (verified phone/Teams) before actioning. Log exceptions and review monthly for attempted fraud trends.
    Cyber Essentials: User Access Control, Secure Configuration. ISO/IEC 27001: Supplier & fraud risk, operational controls (A.5/A.15/A.16).

Designed for City of London firms

Our approach is tailored for organisations in the Square Mile — asset managers, insurance, legal, boutique advisory, fintech and market infrastructure — where client due diligence, regulator expectations and rapid incident response are everyday realities. Controls are prioritised to reduce real‑world risk while supporting audits, client questionnaires and attestation requests.

Policy and governance that stands up to scrutiny

• Cyber Essentials / CE Plus readiness: address the five technical control areas (firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, security update management) with evidence‑based implementation.
• ISO/IEC 27001 alignment: risk assessment, Statement of Applicability, supplier due diligence, incident management playbooks, internal audit and continuous improvement.
• Records and evidence: configuration baselines, access reviews, vulnerability remediation logs, training records and incident reports to support attestations.

Cyber Security London — FAQs

Do we still need a VPN in 2026?

Many firms retain VPNs for specific workloads, but increasingly combine them with identity‑based conditional access and device compliance checks. The goal is least privilege and reduced exposure — not simply “VPN on for everyone”.

What’s the difference between Cyber Essentials and ISO/IEC 27001?

Cyber Essentials (and CE Plus) validates core technical controls; it’s a strong baseline and often a contractual requirement. ISO/IEC 27001 is a comprehensive information security management system (ISMS) standard covering governance, risk and controls across the organisation.

How quickly can we improve our cyber posture?

Most SMEs can materially improve in 90 days by prioritising MFA everywhere, tightening access, patching consistently, deploying EDR, hardening email and running focused awareness training. Longer‑term, formalise policy, supplier assurance and incident response.

A safer future starts with strong foundations. Implement the steps above, evidence alignment to recognised UK and international standards, and iterate. If you need support, our London team is ready to help.

Speedster IT

Louise

With over 15 years at Speedster IT, I’ve built a career around helping businesses navigate the evolving world of technology. I publish all the content for the IT Support London Blog and Cyber Security Blog, where I share practical insights on infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity trends, and smart IT strategies for growing companies.