Businesses urged to “lock the door” on Cyber Criminals as New Government Campaign Launches

19th February 2026

A new campaign to provide practical ways for organisations to protect themselves from common online threats.

• New campaign supports business owners to protect themselves against cyber threats to safeguard jobs and growth.
• Cyber threats cost UK businesses £14.7b a year, with half of small firms experiencing one in the last 12 months.
• More large firms are taking action, but government wants to help businesses of every size to move further and faster by putting protections in place.

Business owners are being urged to “lock the door” on criminals as the UK government launches a new campaign to provide practical ways for organisations to protect themselves from common online threats.

Appearing across social media, podcasts, radio and business networks, the campaign aims to reach busy small and medium sized businesses where they are. It will encourage them to engage with the government’s Cyber Essentials scheme which sets out clear practical steps they can take to protect themselves from the most common cyber attacks. This includes keeping software up to date and controlling who has access to accounts and data to immediately boost their cyber resilience. Many cyber incidents exploit these basic weaknesses, which Cyber Essentials is designed to protect against.

It comes as new figures show the scale of threat facing businesses. Significant cyber incidents cost an average of £195,000 and half of all small businesses have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months.

Last year, 92% fewer insurance claims were made by organisations with Cyber Essentials in place – proving it works. Certification can also help businesses win government contracts, and eligible firms can access free cyber insurance, including a 24/7 emergency helpline, provided by the Cyber Essentials delivery partner.

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