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SMEs are facing more cyberthreats than ever before and the consequences of falling victim to an attack can be devastating . Here , we explore how the UK ’ s National Cyber Security Centre is working to support SMEs with their cybersecurity strategies , while Jamie Ahktar , Co-Founder and CEO at CyberSmart , offers advice to SMEs looking to bolster their defences to keep data secure .

MALL BUSINESSES IN the UK

The new-look guidance arrives at a time when many organisations have moved their operations online due to the Coronavirus pandemic . It highlights accessible and actionable steps to take which have little to no cost .

The five steps in the guide , the original version of which was published in 2017 , include advice on protecting passwords and avoiding email phishing attacks .

Sarah Lyons , NCSC Deputy Director for Economy and Society Engagement , said : “ Cybersecurity can seem overwhelming for some small business owners , but it ’ s never been more important to ensure that measures are in place to protect against online threats . That ’ s why the re-launch of our Small Business Guide is so timely and I would strongly encourage businesses to consult it , whether they have previously done so or not .

“ By acting on the guide ’ s five key recommendations , small businesses can significantly reduce their chances of falling victim to a cyberattack and help to keep their day-to-day operations running smoothly .” The five recommended areas of focus are :

1 BACKING UP YOUR DATA 2 . PROTECTING FROM MALWARE 3 . KEEPING YOUR SMARTPHONES

( AND TABLETS ) SAFE 4 . USING PASSWORDS TO PROTECT

YOUR DATA 5 . AVOID PHISHING ATTACKS