Helping businesses manage their cyber risk

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is encouraging businesses to bolster their cyber security in light of the events in Ukraine and the increased threat of cyber-attacks.*

For small and medium business owners, the current conflict might seem far-removed from the day to day running of your business. You may find yourself believing you’re not at risk or that cyber attacks only happen to large corporate organisations.

We know that this isn’t the case – hackers don’t discriminate and most businesses, regardless of size or sector, are at risk. It’s important that commercial clients understand this. The threat is real and falling victim to a cyber attack or data breach can have a huge effect on your business.

When it comes to good cyber hygiene, it’s about getting the basics right. Putting simple measures in place, for example ensuring software is up to date and that your staff are trained to spot the signs of a potential attack, can make a big difference when it comes to bolstering cyber defences.

We’ve developed this quick guide to help businesses manage their cyber threat, providing you with some practical guidance on reviewing your IT tools and processes as well as how to spot a malicious email.

For more information about Aviva’s cyber insurance cover, please speak to your insurance broker.

It’s understandable that many small businesses may not draw a link between a global conflict and the increased cyber risk to their own business. However, it is widely reported that cyber attacks are on the rise. For SMEs in particular, cyber-attacks can be devastating to both the company’s reputation, as well as its bottom line. We think that brokers, as trusted advisors to their customers’ business, have an important role in helping their SME customers identify and prepare against this increased threat.

Alana Muir, Senior Cyber Underwriter, Aviva

*NCSC advises organisations to act following Russia’s attack on Ukraine, NCSC, March 2022