Every year, the UK government does a survey to find out how businesses and other organizations are handling online security. It asks how often they face cyber-attacks and what they’re doing to protect their systems and data, with the goal being to understand what’s working and where help is still needed. Here we explore what the results of the latest, published in April 2025:
Cyber-Attacks Are Still Very Common
The survey found that nearly half of all businesses and about one-third of charities in the UK had experienced some type of cyber-attack or security breach in the past year alone. This shows that online threats are still a big problem, especially for businesses that depend on computers and the internet.
Phishing Is the Most Frequent Type of Attack
Phishing scams were the most reported type of cyber-threat. These are emails or messages that look real but are actually fake. They often ask the person to click a link, open a file or log in to a fake website. Once that happens, hackers can steal passwords or install harmful software. This kind of attack is dangerous because it targets people – and anyone can fall for it if they’re not careful.
Bigger Organizations Are Attacked More Often
The survey found that large companies, especially those with many employees, are more likely to be targeted. That’s because these businesses often store more data and have more money. Larger businesses also have more people using computers, which increases the chances of someone clicking on a bad link or making a mistake that lets an attacker in.
To strengthen your cyber-security, it’s important to implement website security checks like those at www.etempa.co.uk/website-security-checks/.
Cyber-Attacks Can Be Expensive
The survey also found that when medium-sized or large businesses were attacked, the cost was often high. On average, each attack cost these businesses around £7,500. This money could be lost through stolen data, fixing damaged systems or losing customers who no longer trust the company. For some businesses, that kind of loss can be very hard to recover from.
