Are you ready for a cyber attack?
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides an ‘Exercise in a Box’ online tool that can help businesses check how resilient they are to cyber attacks as well as practise their response in a safe environment.
The tool will give you some exercises that can be carried out in your own time as many times as you want. The exercises include:
-A ransomware attack delivered by phishing email;
-Mobile phone theft and response;
-Being attacked from an unknown Wi-Fi network;
-Insider threat leading to a data breach;
-Third party software compromise;
-Threatened leak of sensitive data;
-Home & remote working; and
-Managing a vulnerability disclosure.
Micro-exercises are also included, covering areas like use of passwords and identifying and reporting a suspected phishing email.
To use ‘Exercise in a Box’ you need to register for an account with NCSC, and you’ll be provided with a tailored report that helps you to identify what to do next and sets out where you can find helpful guidance.
See: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/exercise-in-a-box
Many business owners we work with feel caught up in the day-to-day drudge. They’re handling customer queries, fixing problems, chasing invoices - and wondering how they’ll ever find the time to step back and think about where the business is heading.
HM Revenue and Customs have reported that 170,000 scam referrals were made to them in the year to July 2025. Encouragingly, this is a 12% reduction on the previous year, however HMRC are warning taxpayers to take care.