Cyber Threats Are Real – and Rising
Cyber-crime incidents reached 8.58 million across UK businesses last year, and in recent months, major UK retailers have faced devastating cyber-attacks. Harrods, Marks & Spencer, Jaguar Land Rover, and Co-op have all been targeted by sophisticated hackers. These attacks forced stores to shut down, disrupted supply chains, and even pushed airlines back to manual check-in procedures.
According to the UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025:
- 43% of UK businesses reported a cyber-security breach or attack in the past 12 months – that’s around 612,000 businesses and 61,000 charities.
- The average cost of the most disruptive breach was £1,600 for businesses (or £3,550 excluding zero-cost cases).
But the financial impact can be staggering. Co‑op Group (UK) reported that their cyber attack in April disrupted operations across 2,300 stores, costing ~£206 million in revenue and pushing the business into a loss for the half-year.
And it’s not just large retailers. Smaller businesses and supply chain partners – from ticketing systems to CRM platforms – are increasingly vulnerable. Attackers are targeting intermediaries such as payment systems and booking platforms, creating ripple effects across entire industries.
Security experts call this a wake-up call for every organisation in retail, manufacturing, and services. As Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden warned:
“Recent cyber-attacks should be a wake-up call for all businesses.”
The Reality: Most Businesses Are Not Ready
A recent Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index revealed that only 4% of UK businesses are fully prepared to withstand modern cyber-attacks. Most organisations remain in the beginner or formative stages of readiness.
This lack of preparedness, combined with a growing skills gap in cybersecurity, means businesses must act now to protect their operations, customers, and reputation. Reports show that 90% of companies have increased their cybersecurity budgets in the past two years, yet readiness remains alarmingly low.
Why Cisilion Is Uniquely Positioned to Help
At Cisilion, security is one of our core pillars. We combine deep expertise with strategic partnerships to deliver end-to-end protection:
- Cisco + Microsoft Leadership: We integrate world-class networking, cloud, identity, and threat protection technologies.
- Certified Expertise: Our team holds advanced certifications across Cisco, Microsoft, Fortinet, Palo Alto, and more.
- Holistic Approach: From securing access and protecting identities to defending networks and AI workloads, we cover every angle.
Few partners can offer this “best of both worlds” approach. With Cisilion, you get a one-stop-shop for comprehensive security – from the network to the cloud, from the user to the application.
Funded Security Assessments – Your First Step
Through our partnerships with Cisco and Microsoft, we can offer funded security assessments and workshops. These programmes help organisations evaluate their security posture at no cost, reducing barriers to action and opening the door to stronger defences.
Managed XDR and 24/7 SOC – Why It Matters
Our new alliance with Performanta adds another layer of protection. Performanta is a Microsoft-verified Managed XDR provider, delivering round-the-clock monitoring and incident response through a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC). This means our clients benefit from continuous threat detection and rapid containment – a critical advantage in today’s threat landscape.
The Time to Act Is Now
Cyber-attacks are front-page news. Executives across industries are asking:
“Are we next?”
The reality:
- Skills shortages persist across the UK.
- Threats are growing more sophisticated every day.
- Boards are under pressure to demonstrate resilience.
Now is the time to strengthen your defences. Don’t wait for a breach to expose vulnerabilities.