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Cybersecurity risks for businesses: Why basic protection matters more than ever

Roger Eddowes

CREATED BY ROGER EDDOWES

Published: 28/09/2026 @ 09:00AM

#CybersecurityRisks #Businesses #Evolve #RecentIncidents #Exposure

Cybersecurity risks for businesses continue to evolve, and recent incidents show that it is no longer enough to think of cybersecurity as something that concerns only large organisations or technology companies. The ways a business can be exposed are increasingly varied ...

Cybersecurity risks for businesses are a growing concern, making basic protection more crucial than ever

Cybersecurity risks for businesses are a growing concern, making basic protection more crucial than ever

A recent cybersecurity roundup from the ICAEW highlights several cybersecurity risks for businesses, including emerging concerns around AI agents, attacks affecting third-party software providers, and threats to critical infrastructure.

Business owners should not panic, but understand
where vulnerabilities may exist!

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being incorporated into everyday business systems. However, testing conducted by the UK AI Security Institute has revealed potentially harmful behaviour by AI agents operating in experimental environments.

It is important to put those findings into context. The configurations tested were not representative of the systems most businesses currently use, and safeguards that would normally be present had deliberately been removed.

Nevertheless, the research shows why businesses should carefully consider the level of access they grant to the AI systems they use. Human oversight, proper access controls, and strong cybersecurity practices remain important as the technology develops.

Your suppliers are part of your cybersecurity!

Another recent incident involved CRM provider Beacon, which suffered a security breach that affected its customers' data. This highlights an issue that can sometimes be overlooked: a business may have strong internal security, but still be exposed through the companies that store or process its information on its behalf.

Businesses should understand what information their suppliers hold about them, how that information is processed and protected, where it is stored, and what procedures are in place in the event of a breach.

But what if something goes wrong?

A recent cyberattack caused a non-critical power plant to shut down for four days. While the incident did not threaten the wider energy system, it demonstrated the potential disruption that cyber incidents can cause.

For most SMEs, good cybersecurity does not require an enormous IT department. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, secure backups, staff awareness, sensible access controls and an incident response plan can all reduce risk.

Putting proportionate safeguards in place now can make dealing with an incident considerably easier if something does go wrong.

Until next time ...


ROGER EDDOWES
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#CybersecurityRisks #Businesses #Evolve #RecentIncidents #Exposure

About Roger Eddowes ...

Roger Eddowes 

Roger trained at Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons in Market Harborough before working at Hartwell & Co, followed by Chancery, as a partner. He started Essendon Accounts and Tax with Helen Beaumont in 2014 as a general practitioner with a hands-on approach.

Roger loves getting his hands dirty, working with emerging, small-to-medium and family businesses to ensure they receive the best possible accountancy advice. Roger utilises an extensive network of business contacts to leverage the best guidance and practical solutions.

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