Why 2025 Cyber Security Learning Matters for 2026
2025 set a hard baseline for the UK. Just over 43% of UK businesses identified a cyber breach or attack with phishing still the most disruptive vector 85%.
Nationally, the UK handled a record 204 nationally significant incidents. That equates to four major attacks per week.
That is the equivalent of a major cyber incident hitting the UK every other day. It is like having a national emergency-level cyber event twice as often as a Premier League match.
While headlines focused on high-profile breaches like Jaguar Land Rover, Marks & Spencer, and Barts Health, what we did not hear much about was the relentless pressure on SMBs, hit by phishing-as-a-service, ransomware, and identity scams daily.
Cyber Threats Facing UK SMBs in 2025
1. AI‑Driven Phishing and Deepfake Scams
SMBs reported a surge in AI-crafted phishing emails and deepfake audio that impersonated clients or suppliers, leading to unauthorised payments and credential theft.
2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) Hits Hard
Attackers targeted small firms’ email systems to divert payments, fraudulent invoices and payroll manipulation caused millions in losses across UK SMEs in 2025.
3. Fake Identity Scams and Onboarding Fraud
Criminals exploited weak identity verification in small businesses, posing as suppliers, clients, or new staff, gaining access, stealing data, or diverting payments. This became a common pain point in 2025.
4. Insider Threats and Accidental Misuse
Whether malicious or accidental, insider threats from within SMBs, like staff mishandling data or responding to spoofed emails, led to data exposure and infection by ransomware.
5. Ransomware Targeting SMBs
Ransomware attacks on SMEs increased in both volume and scale. Victims not only saw encrypted data, but also experienced double extortion, with criminals demanding payment for data non-publication.
These trends highlight how SMBs are no longer under the radar, criminals are targeting them with highly automated, AI-enhanced tactics and exploiting human trust, weak verification, and insider risks.
While SMBs faced near-daily threats in 2025, what we did see was a welcome improvement in cyber hygiene, with more businesses adopting risk assessments, cyber insurance, formal security policies, and continuity plans.
Cyber Hygiene Improvements In 2025
- Cyber risk assessments: 48% of small businesses now conduct them (up from 41% in 2024).
- Cyber insurance: Adoption jumped to 62% (up from 49% in 2024).
- Formal cyber security policies: 59% now have one in place (up from 51% in 2024).
- Business continuity plans covering cyber risk: Increased to 53% (up from 44% in 2024).
At Speedster IT We see 2026 as the year speed, autonomy and accountability converge. Extortion tactics will escalate. While AI will begin to amplify both offence and defence.
2026 Cyber Security Predictions & The Big Shifts You Must Prepare For
Here is our view on what that means, and the steps we believe you should take now.
1) Ransomware Pivots to Exposure Over Encryption
Attackers are expected to lean more on data theft and extortion rather than encrypting systems, because better backups blunt old‑school crypto‑ransomware. Prepare for leak pressure and regulatory reporting.
2) Autonomous, Agentic AI Attacks Arrive
2026 is widely forecast as the year we see the first end‑to‑end breach executed by autonomous AI tools. Defenders will need AI‑driven detection and response to match machine speed.
3) Open‑Source Supply Chain Fights Back With AI
After a surge in package repository compromises (npm, PyPI, GitHub) in 2025, expect AI‑powered defences to be built into open‑source ecosystems to curb software supply chain attacks.
4) Compliance Gets Teeth: CRA, NIS2, DORA
From 11 September 2026, the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) introduces twenty-four‑hour reporting for known‑exploited vulnerabilities and severe incidents, accelerating “secure‑by‑design” practices. Financial firms must also track DORA and NIS2 obligations.
5) Zero Trust Network Access Replaces Legacy Vpns
Zero Trust Network Access will become the default for remote access and Here is what that means in practice:
- Granular Access: Users only get access to the specific apps or resources they need, not the whole network.
- Continuous Verification: Identity, device health, and context are checked every time a user tries to connect.
- Reduced Attack Surface: Even if credentials are stolen, attackers cannot move laterally across your systems.
ZTNA is becoming essential for remote work, hybrid environments, and SMBs because it is more secure.
6) AI Fluency Becomes a Core Security Skill
Cyber security professionals will be expected to deploy, govern, and tune AI tools for threat hunting, incident response and continuous monitoring, or risk being outpaced.
What We Recommend You Do Now – Your 90‑Day Resilience Plan
We will help you prioritise the essentials so you can start 2026 on the front foot. Organisations need 24/7 coverage, regulatory alignment, and advanced analytics, without hiring a full SOC.
1) Run A Cyber Security Assessment Assess and Reduce Exposure
We run cyber security assessment services to baseline your current posture, map identities, applications, and suppliers, and quantify business risk. Start with board‑level metrics rooted in UK data (e.g., breach prevalence, phishing impact).
2) Modernise Access & Enable MFA Everywhere
Replace legacy VPN with Zero Trust Network Access to limit lateral movement, reduce attack surface, and improve user experience for hybrid work. Pilot ZTNA for one remote‑access use case and plan your VPN exit.
3) Segment your network and Strengthen Detection & Response With AI
Deploy managed cyber security services (MDR/XDR, SOC‑as‑a‑Service) to achieve 24/7 monitoring and machine‑speed response.
4) Prepare For New Reporting & Audits
We will align your controls and playbooks with CRA reporting timelines and UK guidance and provide cyber security audit services to verify readiness before obligations bite in September 2026.
5) Close Software Supply Chain Gaps
Add software bill of materials (SBOM) checks, repository hygiene, and secure‑by‑design practices to development. Our cyber security consulting services include pipeline hardening and open‑source dependency governance.
6) Update Incident Response
To include data‑extortion scenarios and CRA reporting timelines.
7) Build People Resilience
Run cyber security awareness programmes focused on phishing, identity hygiene, and AI‑era social engineering. Train for awareness.
The Bottom Line
We will help you turn 2026 cyber security resilience from a talking point into a measurable programme.
Whether you need cyber security advisory services for the board, managed services cyber security for 24/7 coverage, or cyber security services and solutions tailored to finance, we have got you covered.
Ready To Move from Plans to Outcomes?
Let us start with a short, structured cyber security assessment and a ZTNA pilot. Get in touch with our team 0204 511 9111
Sources
- UK NCSC Annual Review 2025; surge in significant incidents, ransomware emphasis. [ncsc.gov.uk],
- UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025; prevalence, phishing dominance, control gaps. [gov.uk]
- WatchGuard 2026 Security Predictions; AI-driven threats, ZTNA adoption, ransomware evolution. [com]
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.
