UK Cybersecurity under Siege: Why Businesses Must Act Immediately

Following attacks on retailers Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group, and Harrods, the British government will declare cybersecurity an “absolute priority” for all UK businesses next week.

According to his office, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden led a briefing last Friday regarding the assistance being given to the impacted retailers with national security officials and Richard Horne, the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre.

The Cybersecurity Bill's Role

The office stated that he will explain that the recent attacks are a “wake-up call” for all businesses in a speech at the CyberUK conference in Manchester next week.

Moreover, McFadden will highlight measures to “bolster our national defences,” including new legislation, such as the Cybersecurity Bill, according to the statement.

He'll state: “In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit – with attempts being made every hour of every day – companies must treat cybersecurity as

an absolute priority”.

On April 25, the 141-year-old M&S, one of the most well-known brands in British business, ceased accepting home orders and clothing orders via its website and app due to issues with click-and-collect and contactless pay during the Easter weekend. When online orders will start up again has not been specified.

“Scattered Spider” Ransomware Attack

According to several sources cited by the technology-focused website BleepingComputer, a hacker collective known as “Scattered Spider” is thought to have carried out a ransomware attack that encrypted M&S's servers.

Furthermore, recent years have seen a surge in cyberattacks against British businesses, government agencies, and institutions, costing them tens of millions of pounds and frequently causing months of disruption.

In closing, as demonstrated by the recent attacks on M&S and Co-op, cybercrime can quickly disrupt real-world operations, affecting not only businesses but also their employees, clients, and communities. The UK government has called for immediate action, and companies need to act.

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