Government provides cyber security aid to small businesses

Eligible businesses can now receive a 75% discount on the Cyber Essentials certification program. This program, developed by the National Cyber Security Centre, establishes a baseline for security and is recommended by the government for businesses of all sizes.

The government is investing £2.4 million to subsidize the program, potentially benefiting approximately 6,000 businesses. The reduced cost means firms could pay as little as £80, with a maximum of £125, plus VAT, for certification.

Cyber security minister Liz Lloyd emphasized the vulnerability of small businesses, stating, “We are not going to sit back and let malicious actors take advantage – we will back our SMEs and make them match-fit.”

The funding follows a string of recent cyber incidents, including a massive cryptocurrency theft from Binance last week, where around 6.3 billion US dollars (£4.7 billion) was stolen. Blockchain intelligence firms suspect a North Korean hacking unit was responsible.

In October, online fashion retailer Asos experienced a data breach after an unauthorized party accessed an employee’s account, resulting in customer alerts about a potential hack and the compromise of some personal data.

Last year, Jaguar Land Rover faced a major cyber attack that disrupted production at its factories for weeks, negatively impacting sales and financial performance.

The discount is available on a first-come, first-served basis to businesses that haven’t been certified in the past four years and will run until March or until the funding is exhausted.