The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ, has launched the Cyber Action Toolkit: a single destination for sole traders, micro businesses and small organisations to start building their cyber defences.
Recent figures show that 42% of small businesses reported cyber breaches in 2024, while 35% of micro businesses faced phishing attacks. Despite this threat, many small businesses struggle to know where to start with achieving cyber protection against the most common threats.
In its latest annual review, the NCSC warns that every organisation with digital assets is a potential target to cyber criminal attackers. The NCSC CEO Dr Richard Horne is urging all businesses to ‘act now’ to build the UK’s collective resilience and close the widening gap between the rising pace of the cyber threat and our current capabilities.
The toolkit personalises recommendations based on specific business needs, focusing on high-impact, low-effort actions first. Users progress through Foundation, Improver and Enhanced levels at their own pace, with built-in rewards recognising each step completed.
Key features include:
- Free, personalised cyber security guidance
- Step-by-step actions tailored to business size
- Progress tracking with built-in gamification
The Cyber Action Toolkit is the latest in a series of NCSC products, services and guidance designed to support organisations in improving their cyber resilience. The toolkit is a strong starting point to help small businesses put in place basic measures and develop confidence to work towards Cyber Essentials – the government-backed certification scheme that demonstrates an organisation meets the recognised UK minimum standard for cyber security.
You can access the toolkit via the link here – Cyber Action Toolkit
For more cyber resilience support, you may wish to explore the Cyber Resilience Centre for the South West resources here.
