Government urges businesses to toughen up cyber attack protections
)
Posted: Tue 30th Jan 2024
Businesses should prioritise cyber threats as a key risk like financial and legal challenges, the government has urged as it unveiled a new draft guidance for dealing with cyber attacks.
The code of practice on cyber governance aims to help business owners and senior leaders to shore up their defences from cyber threats. It comes as figures show almost one in three firms have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the past year, with a rise in damaging ransomware attacks and malicious actors.
Designed in partnership with industry experts, including the National Cyber Security Centre, the code calls on companies to have detailed plans in place to respond to and recover from cyber incidents. It adds that the plan should be regularly tested, with a formal system for reporting incidents in place.
The government is seeking views on the code from businesses of all sizes in a consultation that runs until 19 March.
Viscount Camrose, minister for AI and intellectual property, said:
"Cyber attacks are as damaging to organisations as financial and legal pitfalls, so it's crucial that bosses and directors take a firm grip of their organisation's cyber security regimes - protecting their customers, workforce, business operations and our wider economy.
"This new code will help them take the lead in safely navigating potential cyber threats, ensuring businesses across the country can take full advantage of the emerging technologies which are revolutionising how we work.
"It is vital the people at the heart of this issue take the lead in shaping how we can improve cyber security in every part of our economy, which is why we want to see industry and business professionals from all walks coming forward to share their views."
Relevant resources
Are you making these cyber security mistakes in your business?
Cyber security for small businesses: A basic guide
You might also like…
