Is Your Business Ready for the Next Cyber Threat?

Posted: 28th July 2025

In 2025, cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, with SMEs increasingly becoming prime targets. From phishing attacks and ransomware to insider threats and AI-driven scams, the digital risks facing businesses are real, costly, and growing.

Whether you're a startup or an established SME, having a proactive cybersecurity plan is no longer optional. If you don’t already have one, tak ea look at our practical, easy-to-follow checklist that will help protect your data, your customers, and your reputation.

Your 2025 cyber security checklist

1. Patch management

Outdated software is low hanging fruit for cyber criminals. Make sure operating systems, antivirus software, browsers, and third-party applications are regularly updated and patched. 

There are a few ways to keep on top of this. Firstly, you should enable automatic updates wherever possible. For everything else, you could set a monthly ‘patch management day’ for your team. Alternatively, if you work with a proactive managed IT support provider, you can feel safe in the knowledge that all your software updates are tanken care of efficiently and at a time that won’t disrupt your business.

2. Strengthen password strategies

Weak passwords are a hacker’s dream, making a strong password strategy essential to effective cyber security. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all business-critical systems and ensure your team is using strong, unique passwords. A password manager such as Bitwarden or 1Password can help manage and generate secure passwords.

3. Perfect your backups

A robust backup strategy is your last line of defense against ransomware and data loss. It's essential to use automated daily data backups and store them securely offsite or in the cloud. Schedule regular test restores to ensure your data can actually be recovered when needed - if you can't restore it, it's not a real backup!

4. Cyber security awareness training

When you consider 80% of cyber breaches are caused by human error, you can see how essential ongoing cyber security awareness training is. Employees should be taught to spot phishing emails and social engineering attacks. Simulated phishing campaigns are a great way to reinforce their learnings and can reduce the chances of a successful breach by as much as 90%. 

It's also important to communicate a clear process for reporting suspicious activity and what to do in the event of a cyber attack. Timely responses can limit damage, reduce downtime, and save your business.

5. Secure all devices (including remote workers)

In today’s world of hybrid working, maintaining cyber security for remote workers is essential. Ensure all laptops and mobile devices have up-to-date antivirus softwareto minimise risk and use endpoint protection tools to monitor and control device usage. Don’t forget, cyber attacks can target smartphones too. Equip your remote workers with tips on how to protect their mobile phones as part of their awareness training.

6. Review your cyber liability insurance coverage

Cyber insurance isn’t a cure-all, but it can help reduce financial damage in the event of an attack. It's important to check your coverage limits and understand what’s included in your policy. Make sure you meet your insurer’s security requirements, and speak with your broker about coverage for ransomware, business interruption, and regulatory fines.

Many insurers now require proof of active cybersecurity controls. Gaining the Cyber Essentials Accreditation is a great way to do this and can get you free cyber liability insurance for your business up to £25,000.

We can help protect your business

Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time fix but a continuous process. By working through this checklist and working with cyber security specialists like Jupiter IT, your business can stay protected against the latest threats in 2025 and beyond.

Don’t wait for a breach to take action. If you need help assessing your current cyber security posture or want ongoing support, reach out us. From our unique security framework and free cyber security training for your staff to guiding your through the Cyber Essentials Accreditation process, we have experts waiting to strengthen your security.