Could One Click Put Your Small Business at Risk? What the Latest Cyber Security Figures Reveal
An unexpected email. A familiar-looking invoice. A message asking you to confirm your password. For a busy small business owner, these are the kinds of things that can easily get lost among the dozens of tasks demanding your attention.
But what happens when that email isn't genuine? Or when someone gains access to the account you use to communicate with customers, manage bookings or receive payments?
Cyber security might sound like something for large corporations with dedicated IT departments. However, the latest UK figures tell a different story.
Nearly half of UK small businesses reported a cyberattack
According to the UK Government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026, 46% of small businesses identified a cyber security breach or attack in the previous 12 months.
Across businesses of all sizes, the figure was 43%, equivalent to an estimated 612,000 UK businesses. And one of the most common threats is something many of us encounter regularly: suspicious emails.
The survey found that 38% of businesses experienced phishing attacks, where criminals attempt to trick people into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links or making fraudulent payments.
For a small business, the consequences can reach far beyond an inconvenient afternoon. Losing access to important files, having an email account compromised or exposing customer information can disrupt everyday operations and affect the trust you've worked hard to build.
The latest warning: cyber criminals are still exploiting everyday weaknesses
On 3 November 2026, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) published its latest Annual Review, revealing the scale of cyber threats facing UK organisations.
During the reporting year, its incident management team received 1,831 reports of cyberattacks, with 337 incidents requiring specialist support. Of these, 80 were classified as nationally significant.
The report also highlighted something particularly relevant to smaller businesses: many successful attacks still begin with familiar problems, including stolen login details, outdated systems and phishing.
Artificial intelligence is making some attacks faster and more convincing, but criminals don't always need sophisticated technology to succeed. Sometimes, an overlooked software update or a convincing email is enough.
What could a cyberattack look like for your business?
Imagine you're running a small business in East Sussex.
You receive an email appearing to come from a regular supplier. It explains that their bank details have changed and asks you to update the information before making your next payment.
The branding looks familiar. The wording sounds professional. You're busy, so you make the change. Only later do you discover the email wasn't from your supplier at all.
This is one example of how cybercrime can affect an ordinary business transaction. Similar risks exist when staff reuse passwords, customer records aren't backed up or someone gains unauthorised access to a business email account. The good news is that many common risks can be reduced with practical, affordable precautions.
Five simple ways to make your business safer
You don't need to become an IT expert to start improving your cyber security.
1. Add an extra layer of security to your accounts. Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever possible, particularly for email, banking and business platforms.
2. Think twice before clicking. If an unexpected message asks you to open a link, share information or make a payment, verify it through a trusted contact method.
3. Keep your software updated. Updates often fix security weaknesses that criminals could otherwise exploit.
4. Back up important business information. Keep secure backups of essential files and check that you can restore them if something goes wrong.
5. Have a plan for when things go wrong. Knowing who to contact, which accounts to secure and how to respond can help limit disruption. These are small steps, but they can make a meaningful difference to how confidently and securely your business operates.
Protecting your customers is part of protecting your business
Customers trust businesses with more than their money. They may also share contact details, addresses, payment information and other personal data. Looking after that information is an important part of running a responsible business. And as more small businesses use cloud software, digital payment systems, online booking platforms and AI tools, understanding basic cyber safety is becoming increasingly relevant. The aim isn't to make business owners fearful of using technology. It's to help them benefit from it without taking unnecessary risks.
Take the next step: Free Cyber Safety Workshop in Lewes
If you've been meaning to review your business security but aren't sure where to start, we're here to help.
As part of the East Sussex Digital Growth Series, Portobello Business Centre is delivering a free, practical workshop designed to make cyber security easier to understand and manage.
Cyber Safety Basics: Protect Yourself, Clients & Devices
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
Time: 1:30pm–3:30pm
Location: Linklater Pavilion, Railway Lane, Lewes, BN7 2FG
Cost: Free for eligible East Sussex SMEs, sole traders and small charities
Led by cyber security and AI specialist Vishal Bal, the session will explore common online scams, safer passwords, protecting customer data, secure cloud tools and what to do if something goes wrong.
You'll work through practical examples, complete a cyber safety checklist and identify an improvement you can make straight away.
No technical background is needed.
Register Now
The East Sussex Digital Growth Series is funded by East Sussex County Council and the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority, managed by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Portobello Business Centre CIC.
Know another business owner in East Sussex who could benefit? Please share this article with them. A little more awareness today could help prevent a much bigger problem tomorrow.
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