Skip to content

Cyber security threats are a concern for businesses of all sizes. For SMEs, a serious data breach can be an existential threat. For large corporations, a cyber attack can cause costly disruption, business interruption and brand perception damage among customers. As cyber attacks become more complex, the importance of effective cyber security measures continues to grow across all sectors.

Statista Reports that the global cost of cybercrime reached $9.22 trillion in 2024 and is likely to rise by half to a worldwide total of $13.82 trillion by 2028. With this rising cost in mind, let’s take a look at some of the top cyber threats faced by businesses in the UK, along with the impact on cyber security for small businesses in the coming years.

1. AI-Powered Cyber Threats

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the biggest trends across the board. Unfortunately, that includes AI-powered cyber security threats AI-powered cybersecurity threats.

Using AI, cyber criminals can identify targets, create convincing phishing materials and impersonate real individuals’ tone of voice (and in some cases, their actual voice in AI-generated audio recordings). By removing the need for human involvement, AI allows cyber threats to be scaled up massively. The same scam call or email can be sent to a vast number of businesses in a short space of time, even being tailored to each recipient in a fraction of a second.

 

AI Cyber Security for Small Businesses

 

The UK government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 highlights that AI is a worry for businesses and non-profits alike. One IT manager from a medium-sized business told the survey: “I think it’s going to get more and more difficult with what’s out there with AI. I think there’s more for us to do to protect the end-user and educate them.” At the same time, behavioural AI is helping small businesses to fight back by spotting dangerous trends and anomalies in massive data sets, enabling a new generation of smarter cyber security solutions.

With the help of AI and good preparedness, recovery from cyber security breaches can be rapid too: 92% of businesses told the survey they restored operations within 24 hours and 77% said it took them “no time at all” to continue with their work.

 

2. Rise in Ransomware Attacks

 

Ransomware attacks occur when malicious software is installed on a company’s computer systems. This encrypts essential data and displays a message to instruct the company’s owner or IT manager to pay a ransom, often via cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found a significant increase in ransomware attacks between 2024 and 2025, doubling from 1 in 200 businesses to affect 1 in 100 respondents in the second half of 2024.

Nearly 20,000 firms in the UK were impacted by ransomware during that time, indicating the importance of including ransomware preparedness in any cyber security risk assessment.

 

3. Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

 

Supply chain risks are nothing new, and the vast majority of UK businesses have been affected in recent years from disruption caused by Brexit, COVID-19, international tariffs and the war in Ukraine. But very few are factoring supply chain vulnerabilities into their planning to mitigate cyber security threats. Just one in seven (14%) said they check the risks arising from their immediate suppliers, and half that number are auditing their wider supply chain for cyber threats.

Continuity is one of the five Cs of cyber security, and supply chain vulnerabilities have a direct impact on business continuity for companies of all sizes. With so few firms already making this a priority, planning for supply chain cyber threats could be a good way for SMEs to gain a competitive advantage.

 

4. Advanced Phishing and Social Engineering

 

Phishing is closely linked with the rise of AI, which is making attacks more sophisticated. Large language models (LLMs) allow the creation of chatbots capable of holding natural-sounding conversations and gradually coaxing an unaware individual into committing a data breach. Nearly all businesses affected by cyber crime in the second half of 2024 experienced a phishing attack. The UK government’s survey revealed that 93% of businesses and 95% of charities that were victims of cyber crime in that time were targeted by phishing.

Almost half (45% of profit-making businesses and 46% of non-profits) said phishing was the ONLY type of attack they had experienced when falling victim to cyber attacks. Phishing attacks are considered the most disruptive type of cyber threats by nearly two thirds (65%) of businesses, reinforcing the need for SMEs to take phishing, impersonation and other cyber risks seriously.

 

5. Cloud Security Challenges

 

Increased use of cloud computing, remote working and sharing data with supply chain partners has all increased the challenge of maintaining cloud data security. Some progress has been made in this area, as the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 showed. Some of the main measures taken by businesses to improve their data security include:

 

But the survey also found that some additional methods to protect data security are only being adopted by a minority of businesses:

Businesses keen to improve can fight back against cloud security risks via Security as a Service (SECaaS), which in its own right is a cloud-based model to deliver subscription-based cyber security for small businesses.

6. Targeted Threats to Small Businesses

 

All of this is leading to specific cyber threats for small businesses, who may have less robust data security policies in place, or may lack the budget and expertise to improve cyber security in-house. The UK government survey noted this, saying that “among some of the smaller businesses interviewed, the responsibility of cyber security was being passed on to external contractors” and that this left some senior managers disengaged from the topic. It’s always a good idea to understand the preventative measures in cyber security taken by any outsourced provider, so you can reinforce them with better awareness among your workforce – especially in a climate of social engineering and targeted phishing attacks.

That’s why at Venom IT, we encourage you to ask questions about cyber security, and work closely with our clients to ensure that the measures we take on your behalf are clear and transparent.

Productivity is an overarching goal for businesses of all sectors and sizes, but especially those with a smaller team who may not have the resources to hire countless employees. So, how can you improve collaboration and communication while keeping costs to a minimum? 

One of the easiest ways to boost efficiency across the board is by investing in a productivity suite. MS365 is a fantastic choice for small businesses, and in this article, we’ll explain why. 

An intro to Microsoft 365 for small businesses 

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based productivity suite that offers tools like Teams, Excel, Word, SharePoint and more. This familiar software offers employees the flexibility to work from any device and location while ensuring the highest level of security. 

What does MS365 include?

Depending on the package you select, MS365 will include a varying range of features tailored to meet your bespoke needs. It’s designed to be scalable and flexible to the growing needs of your organisation, which makes MS365 ideal for a small business. 

Key features of Microsoft 365 

Some of the key features of Microsoft 365 include: 

 

Is it the same as Office 365?

No, Office 365 is a combination of cloud-based applications, whereas Microsoft 365 integrates the latter with Windows 10 (OS) and the Enterprise Mobility Suite. However, Office 365 has now been rebranded as Microsoft 365, and the same features are available with the basic subscription.   

Top 5 benefits of Microsoft 365 for small businesses

Organisations all around the world have chosen MS365 as their productivity software of choice. Here are five of the top benefits to consider: 

1 – Efficiency & Control

Above all, MS365 offers small businesses greater efficiency and control. Thanks to its wide range of productivity features, like calendars, email, and to-do lists; employees can perform their jobs with ease, stay organised, and remain on-task. Since Microsoft 365 is a centralised communication hub, your team will gain instant access to collaborative features that are designed to improve coordination and productivity. 

2 – Security & updates

Microsoft 365 is equipped with an array of built-in security features, like data encryption and two-factor authentication, which help organisations safeguard themselves from the risk of cybersecurity threats. Plus, all office applications are upgraded automatically which reduces the risk of experiencing software bugs and ensures your team always has access to the latest security updates. 

3 – Sharing & Access

One of the greatest selling points of Microsoft 365 for a small business is the sharing features of this cloud-based solution. With OneDrive and SharePoint, employees can seamlessly access and share documents from any device. This is a vital benefit for companies with a remote team or flexible work environment, as employees can have access to all their resources and tools despite being away from the office. 

4 – Price

Another benefit of MS365 is the monthly subscription fee. Small businesses can keep costs to a minimum since they only pay for what they need. The price will depend on the level of functionality and number of users required. Plus, if your business grows, you can easily add new members to your licence and upgrade to a higher tier of MS365. Given that Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based solution, you won’t have to worry about investing in additional hardware. 

5 – Support

Last but not least, MS365 helps small businesses better support their customers and employees. Moreover, organisations who subscribe to an MS365 support partner can take advantage of countless resources which help them get the best out of the software. With your subscription, you’ll gain access to training programs, community forums, 24/7 technical support, and extensive tutorials.

Which package is right for your business? 

Our customers often ask us, should SMEs use Microsoft 365? And, if so, which package is right for their business? In short, subscribing to MS365 can work wonders for a small business – you simply need to find a package that aligns with your organisation’s bespoke needs. 

The best part about it? Microsoft 365 is adaptable to the growing needs of your business. When you purchase MS365 from a managed IT Support provider, like Venom IT, you get additional technical support (at no extra cost). If you’d like to learn more about Microsoft 365 and how your small business could benefit, don’t hesitate to reach out.

As organisations increasingly embrace digital transformation, business leaders are constantly on the lookout for new ways to modernise their streams of communication and enhance efficiency. In this fast-paced landscape, the demand for versatile technology that can adapt and evolve is at its peak. 

Gone are the days in which companies need to install tedious and bulky landlines to get in contact with stakeholders. If employees are no longer tied down to a single location, neither should their forms of communication. That’s why VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones are the latest industry trend. Here’s what you need to know: 

What is VoIP?

VoIP in 2024 is all about working smarter, not harder. This technology allows employees to make phone calls over the Internet rather than through traditional phone systems, such as a landline. 

Unlike a landline, which requires physical installation and use, VoIPs can be used from anywhere and at any time. Moreover, you can use VoIP devices for an array of functions, such as sending and receiving text messages, conducting conference calls, and even streaming video.  

Advanced VoIP systems offer companies a wealth of automated controls and productivity tools that cannot be achieved with traditional landlines. This includes features like call forwarding, call analytics, voicemail-to-email transcription, and auto-attendants. 

Thanks to the prevalence of high-speed broadband and greater software development, using the Internet to communicate with others has never been easier. With a rapid installation time, business VoIP phone systems are just a phone call away. 

Top 5 reasons to switch to VoIP

The VoIP benefits are widespread. It offers companies greater flexibility, lower costs, and enhanced security. If you still need more convincing, here are five reasons to switch over to VoIP in 2024. 

1 – ISDN switch off

One of the most compelling reasons to ditch the landlines and embrace VoIPs is the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) switch off. The ISDN switch off refers to the upcoming phase out of ISDN technology in favour of modern, broadband-powered alternatives.

By 2025, telecommunication companies will make the transition from legacy technologies towards fully digital networks. Therefore, companies looking to future-proof their business will benefit from embracing VoIP technology in 2024. 

2 – Difference vs landline

Landlines can only be used to make phone calls from a physical location whereas VoIPs can cater to a range of needs while providing greater flexibility. You can access your VoIP from virtually any location and any device, all you need is a stable Internet connection. This makes VoIPs the optimal choice for organisations that want to offer remote work or enhance business continuity. 

3 – Price

Keeping costs to a minimum is one of the easiest ways to boost revenue and bolster productivity. Making calls on a traditional landline can quickly add up, especially if you’re communicating abroad or adding multiple phone lines to account for a growing team. 

The cost of a digital VoIP provider may vary depending on various factors; however, many companies offer business-friendly plans. Plus, you won’t have to worry about additional expenses, such as maintenance or installation fees. 

4 – Installation

Installing VoIP telephony is as easy as it gets. There’s no need to waste time dealing with a technician or breaking into walls to run cables through your walls. All you need to do is plug your device into an ethernet cable and start enjoying the benefits instantaneously.

5 – Security

Ensuring the security and privacy of VoIP calls is vital. With the correct training, maintenance, and practices, VoIP systems can offer businesses a greater sense of security. Private conversations will remain confidential as these systems often use encryption to prevent unauthorised users from listening in. 

Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP services also include spam call filtering and blocking features, which safeguard employees against potential scams and unwanted solicitors. Not only does this enhance productivity, but it also improves security measures.

Thanks to its scalability, companies can easily add or remove users from accessing the VoIP without compromising the integrity or security of the system. Plus, employers can add another layer of security by offering advanced access control measures and implementing strong authentication methods.

 

Whether you’re a small business outfit, or larger corporation in need of digital transformation, Venom IT are here to help. Simply head over to our contact page to submit your interest, and an IT expert will be in touch to discuss your requirements.

The advantages of 3CX for business reach far beyond the ISDN switch-off, and as we move into an all-IP future of business telephony, let’s take a look at why 3CX is the perfect choice for SMEs and contact centres of all sizes.

In this guide we’ll run through some of the biggest benefits of 3CX for business, how to setup 3CX and why an MSP can be the best way to transition your existing telecoms system over to fully digital IP phone lines.

What is a 3CX system?

3CX is an IP-based business telephony system that gives SMEs a scalable, affordable way to manage voice, video and live chat calls.

As a simple but complete telecoms platform, businesses benefit from features including:

Because it is built using open standards, 3CX is widely compatible with hardware from other providers, including some of the most popular SIP trunks, VoIP gateways and IP phones.

Our top 5 advantages of using 3CX

The wide compatibility of 3CX with other open-standard telephony equipment is just one of the advantages of 3CX for business. Here are five more of the biggest benefits of 3CX.

1. Save money on telecoms costs

One of the biggest advantages of 3CX for SMEs is the ability to make significant cost savings on telecoms. Moving to 3CX delivers all the usual benefits of adopting VoIP telephony, but with even more features and capabilities.

Integrating video calls and web conferencing with your IP telephony gives you a single system to install, setup and maintain – either in the cloud, as a hosted service or running on your own hardware.

With the option to start calling without buying hardware VoIP phones, 3CX is an ideal way to move over to digital telephony in time for the ISDN switch-off.

2. Get an IP PBX for Windows

3CX systems run on Windows, the operating system used by most SMEs worldwide. This allows you to get an IP PBX for Windows with an interface that looks familiar and works the way you expect.

Integrate 3CX with Microsoft 365 applications for seamless calling in Microsoft Teams and easy setup for new users.

But you’re not tied to Windows desktop systems. With iOS and Android 3CX apps available, you can add support for your IP telecoms platform on the mobile devices you want to use.

3. Take your desk anywhere

3CX not only supports mobile devices – it can transfer your direct desk telephone number to your mobile device when you leave the office.

For employees who spend time in the field, this means that clients, customers and colleagues can always reach you on your direct line, no matter where you are.

And if you want to embrace flexible working, 3CX can support SMEs with a hybrid workforce, including fully home-based and part-time office-based staff.

4. Fully featured as standard

3CX brings an impressive list of features as standard, so SMEs don’t face extra costs for the functionality they need.

Some of the capabilities you get with 3CX phones include:

Intuitive software and a familiar Windows-based environment means that these features are easy to understand, helping business admins and new hires alike to start using 3CX immediately.

5. Integrate with everything

Open standards and versatile design mean your 3CX system can integrate with the software and telephones you already use.

3CX can be hosted, cloud-based or a private local installation. It supports VoIP, SIP trunks and PSTN telephones (ahead of the planned 2025 ISDN switch-off).

Extensions for Chromium-based internet browsers (e.g. Chrome and Edge) and Firefox enable one-click calling wherever a telephone number is listed on a website.

And if you have a CRM platform up and running, it should be a simple setup process to enable 3CX to work with it, so you can continue to interact with customers via your established procedures.

How can businesses get setup with 3CX

A correctly configured 3CX setup offers powerful security features for SMEs, with built-in tools that can be accessed via the intuitive online interface.

Implement SSL certificates, firewall access and comprehensive antivirus protection to further prevent potential attacks from breaking through your business’s telecoms perimeter.

Venom IT can help your business get setup with 3CX as an installed, cloud-hosted or fully managed VoIP solution, to suit your needs and capabilities.

To find out more, and to get 3CX up and running with total security, seamless integration and all your initial users onboarded, contact Venom IT today.

The CrowdStrike outage on Friday, July 19th, left many Windows users worldwide unable to access their machines, with knock-on effects on services ranging from healthcare, to aviation, to entire TV channels taken off-air.

Instead of a functioning computer, users were faced with the blue screen of death, or BSOD, a familiar sight to victims of cyber security attacks over the years.

While the incident has been widely reported as a Microsoft IT outage, it was specifically caused by a content configuration update published by CrowdStrike for their Falcon platform, which ironically is intended to protect businesses against malware and cyber attacks.

Due to a missed fault in the update, Falcon itself triggered the biggest cyber security outage 2024 has seen so far – so what exactly happened and what can businesses do to mitigate any risks in the future?

What is CrowdStrike?

CrowdStrike is a provider of cloud-native cyber security solutions including the AI-driven CrowdStrike Falcon platform.

The company dates back to February 2012 and launched its first threat intelligence module in July of that year. CrowdStrike Falcon was introduced in November 2016 as a replacement for the brand’s legacy antivirus software.

Despite the recent incident, overall for CrowdStrike cyber security 2024 has been a landmark year, with the company receiving multiple accolades:

 

Unfortunately, a rogue software update triggered the global Microsoft outage, which is likely to be how CrowdStrike’s 2024 is remembered in years to come.

Who exactly did the CrowdStrike outage affect?

The incident was on a massive scale. CrowdStrike’s customer base includes:

 

Microsoft estimated that 8.5 million Windows systems worldwide were affected – less than 1% of all machines, but still a significant number.

Is Microsoft still down?

Despite being triggered by a faulty cybersecurity update, the CrowdStrike outage was specific to Windows machines. As such, Microsoft responded as if the issue were a Microsoft IT outage, deploying hundreds of engineers to work around the clock on a solution.

This included collaborating with major stakeholders like AWS (Amazon Web Services) and GCP (Google Cloud Platform), as well as posting how-to guides and automated scripts for remediation of affected machines.

CrowdStrike also acted quickly to revert the problematic update, and there should be no further ill effects for Windows-based machines.

Where and when did the outage happen?

So, how did the biggest cyber security outage of 2024 begin? The incident can be traced back to 04:09 UTC on July 19th, when CrowdStrike released a Falcon sensor configuration update for Windows systems.

It’s now known that a bug in CrowdStrike’s Content Validator meant that the July 19th update passed a validation test despite containing “problematic content data” which in turn caused an out-of-bounds memory read, triggering the BSOD.

The relevant update was remediated by 05:27 UTC, just 78 minutes after it was issued, but the damage had already been done.

Was Microsoft hacked?

Although this incident was widely reported as a Microsoft IT outage, it was not caused by a cyber attack and was not directly caused by any problems or errors in Microsoft software.

Crucially, it was not triggered by third-party malware and was not a ransomware attack – it was simply a software bug that prevented affected machines from booting Windows successfully.

Ironically, CrowdStrike’s mitigation measures included adding the faulty update file to Falcon’s own “known-bad list” to prevent it from being executed again.

What about cyber security?

This incident highlights the importance of cyber security you can trust, combined with disaster recovery preparedness for all manner of digital business interruptions.

Venom IT’s best-practice cyber security solutions use a SECaaS (Security as a Service) model to give you the benefit of cloud-based outsourced cybersecurity protection with fluid scalability and military-grade defence.

We offer comprehensive cyber security risk assessments to highlight any potential weaknesses or causes for concern in your existing hardware, software and working practices, to close vulnerabilities that cyber terrorists and hackers might exploit.

And with our hosted DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service) solutions, if your data is ever compromised for any reason, we can get you back on track using a full daily backup and/or an hourly snapshot of your entire server.

To find out more – and to protect your IT ecosystem against the dreaded BSOD – contact our team of IT experts today.

Migrating to Microsoft 365 is one of the best ways for businesses to improve communication and collaboration, and boost productivity and efficiency across all departments.

In this complete guide to migrate Office 365 step by step, we’ll take you through the initial value proposition and planning stage, right through to implementation.

By looking at some of the key features of Microsoft Office 365 for business, we’ll help you to see the positive impact this cloud productivity suite can have on your operations.

What is Microsoft 365 vs Office 365?

Microsoft 365 has become the go-to standard for cloud-based business productivity software. You may have heard it referred to by several different names:

 

In the past, Office 365 referred specifically to applications like Excel, PowerPoint and Word, while Microsoft 365 was broader and also included Windows.

This has been simplified so that everything is now covered under the Microsoft 365 banner – you can find out more about that here.

Why Migrate to Microsoft 365?

Migrating to Microsoft 365 offers some huge benefits for small to medium-sized businesses, including all the flexibility of cloud-based software and dedicated Office 365 managed services.

Just some reasons to migrate to Microsoft Office 365 for business include:

 

When you choose Venom IT to provide Microsoft Office 365 managed services, you benefit from additional help and support included in your subscription price, to avoid any extra third-party helpdesk costs.

Planning to Migrate

It’s a good idea to plan to migrate Office 365 step by step, so that you know what to do with your existing hardware, software and business data.

A gradual migration can give you time to learn about any differences in your most commonly used software, how to use new productivity features that are only available on the cloud, and to transition one part of your business at a time.

This is also the time to assess the condition of your servers, workstations, and the speed of your network connection, in case anything is due for an update to make best use of the cloud.

Venom IT can help from the planning stage through to a full upgrade of your business computing infrastructure (if one is needed).

Find out more about migrating to Microsoft 365 as part of migrating an existing cloud solution to Microsoft Azure.

Migration and Transition

A detailed written plan to migrate Office 365 step by step will help to make sure that nothing is missed.

Some elements to incorporate into your Microsoft 365 migration plan include:

 

Venom IT’s MS Office 365 managed services will take care of the migration, so that nothing critical is missed – allowing you to focus on transitioning employees over to capitalise on the productivity potential of your new cloud-based software.

A Smooth Post-Migration

The advantages of Microsoft Office 365 for business don’t end when the initial migration is over. The powerful suite of cloud-based enterprise tools will continue to unlock new ways to collaborate and protect mission-critical data.

Initial post-migration checks should validate any data including emails, contact books and calendars, to make certain that everything is in place.

Then comes the technical side of updating DNS records and re-routing emails through Office 365, allowing your employees to access their inboxes via any secure, authorised connection.

You can also (when it’s time) retire your old hardware if it’s no longer needed, removing inefficient servers from your network to save on business energy costs and reduce maintenance demand.

Review of Success

It’s always a good idea to review the level of success of any business investment, and your migration to MS 365 is no exception.

Take note of any strategies that worked particularly well and any lessons learned for the future – we’re sure our support with Office 365 will not only deliver a smooth migration, but also offer transferable insight that can be applied in other areas of your business.

 

Find Out More

The full scope of Microsoft 365 is vast, and there are tools and processes to migrate data from a wide range of sources into a collaboration-friendly, secure and reliable cloud platform with all the programs your employees know and trust.

If you would like to find out more about migrating to Office 365 step by step – and how Venom IT’s Office 365 migration support can ensure seamless delivery of every stage in that process – contact us today.

We live in a world where every business uses IT to some extent. The hardware and software we use on a daily basis can be crucial to keeping the lights on and the doors open.

IT consulting services do just that, by anticipating possible problems with your IT systems and reacting to any incidents that occur, whether your business is global, national or local.

This can keep your systems agile during times of rapid change, allow you to embrace new technologies, and protect you against cyber security breaches and costly fines for data loss.

Employee training is another of the most important IT services for small businesses, as properly trained staff are more likely to get the best from the technology they use, without breaking it or unwittingly installing a virus.

So, what is an IT consultant, and do you need one? In this guide we’ll look in more detail at the answers to those questions, to help you decide.

What is an IT consultancy service?

An IT consultancy service gives you somewhere to turn when you’re planning new installations and upgrades, expansions, or just troubleshooting an IT outage on your network.

You don’t have to have a lot of computers to benefit from an IT consultant. You might run a small business with just a handful of devices (e.g. smartphones, laptops, internet, printer, EPOS till and card reader).

Remember, IT also includes the software you use. From your operating system and word processor, through to your accounts software, keeping programs fully updated gives you access to the latest features and blocks any newly discovered security vulnerabilities.

Most small businesses do not have the resources for an in-house IT team on the off-chance that something comes up. That’s where outsourced and managed IT consultants come in.

What services do IT consultants offer?

Let’s return to the original question: What is an IT consultant?

For small businesses, IT consultants can provide expertise that isn’t available in-house. That might be as part of IT procurement processes, or as a 24/7 emergency response if something breaks.

The role is essentially the same for larger clients, even up to multinational enterprises. But the complexity and the size of the IT budget is much higher, and there may be even more pressure to proactively prevent cyber security breaches.

Regardless of the size of your business, the best IT consultants will take your circumstances into account, and provide the right advice for you – giving you systems that work, adapt to changing business conditions, and maximise your productivity over time.

Types of IT consultancy services

You may find it easier to think of IT consultancy as a package of IT support services. This package can be tailored to your needs, and may include:

On-site support

Good IT consultancy services are more than just a helpline. You should be able to get an engineer on-site when you need one, to see first-hand what your systems are doing.

IT problem management

In the event of a problem or outage, your IT consultant should take charge of the incident, restoring systems to full working order quickly and effectively.

Specialist IT support

You may need bespoke IT support services, perhaps due to the complexity or size of your business, or because you operate in a niche market. The best IT consultants see this not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to tailor your managed IT services and give you exactly what you need.

Ongoing collaboration

Long-term collaboration can allow your IT consultancy to function almost as an in-house department. This ability to understand your IT systems can allow them to spot common problems and take action to mitigate them, saving you money and downtime.

Is an IT consultant right for my business?

You might still be wondering if IT consulting services are right for you. Let’s think about it in terms of the size of your business.

SME

For SMEs it’s not about scale, but significance. If you only have one till or computer and it breaks, you could be forced to close your doors until you can get it repaired.

Having a reliable 24/7 IT consultancy just a phone call away can often get you back up and running faster, as well as giving you access to expert advice to get the best out of your limited IT budget when buying new devices and software.

National

National brands can benefit from using a single IT consultancy with the capacity to cover your entire network. Venom IT are based in Manchester, giving us great transport links with Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, London and other cities up and down the UK.

You want to know that wherever a problem occurs, your IT consultancy can respond. With round-the-clock callouts and a workforce of trusted engineers, we’ve got you covered.

Multinational

The largest and most complex IT networks often suffer from bandwidth and security problems. You want data to flow quickly in and out of your network, without putting you at risk of breaches and cyber theft.

We have the expertise to protect you against such threats, as well as to advise on the most efficient use of large IT budgets when procuring bulk hardware and enterprise software licences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the FAQs we receive most often about our IT consulting services for SMEs, national and multinational clients.

What is the difference between IT support and IT consulting?

There is a lot of overlap between these two terms, and different IT service providers may define them differently. In general, IT support is often more of a helpdesk service, whereas IT consulting is more in-depth and strategic, especially when planning future installations. A good IT support provider will be able to offer both.

How much does an IT consultancy typically cost?

IT consultancy costs vary widely depending on what you need. For obvious reasons, a multinational corporation will likely spend much more on IT consultancy than an SME with just a few computers to maintain. Book an initial no-obligation consultation for a bespoke quote based on the terms and scale of your contract.

Are IT consultancies suitable for long-term projects?

Yes! Long-term collaboration can allow IT consultancies to deliver even more tailored insight and strategy. If you are planning a growth project, or just looking for ongoing maintenance and upgrades to your existing IT infrastructure, Venom IT can provide the expertise you need both now and going forward.

The technology we all use in our workplaces has made it possible to do business in ways that were unimaginable 30 years ago. High-speed internet, pocket-sized devices and cloud computing allow us to access data from almost anywhere.

As a result, IT support for small business networks has become more and more important in recent decades – and is now mission-critical for many organisations even outside of purely digital niche markets.

In this guide we’ll look at a range of IT support services for small businesses, from implementing reliable cloud computing, to improving SME cyber security to protect valuable data.

By the end of this guide, you should have a much clearer picture of how an MSP can support small businesses with their IT, what it means for you, and the types of SME IT support services you could benefit from.

Why small businesses need reliable IT support

SMEs face unique challenges. By definition, you have a smaller workforce (up to 50 employees for small businesses, and up to about 250 for medium-sized companies). You also have modest to medium turnover, up to about £50 million maximum.

As your business grows, it’s likely that you introduce some specialists into your workforce. You may have a dedicated finance department, an in-house recruitment team, or a marketing executive.

But keeping a fully trained, highly skilled IT team in full-time employment can be difficult for SMEs. You might only have an occasional need for tech support, or a fairly small computer network. Bringing in an outsourced IT solution is a great option for small businesses, offering the specific expertise you need, within an SME budget.

Preventing Downtime

Business continuity is a non-negotiate for smaller companies, as any length of downtime is likely to have a proportionally greater impact on your productivity and revenues. With 24/7 support a phone call away, you can get your systems back online in an emergency.

Data Security

Rules on data protection are stricter than ever, with severe penalties for significant breaches. Outsourcing cyber security to an MSP gives an SME protection against hacks and attacks, with comprehensive antivirus software and, if appropriate, training for your staff to reduce human error. A good IT service provider will be there with you every step of the way, with advice on cyber security best practices and 24/7 help should the need ever arise.

Planning and Supporting Growth

Successful SMEs can experience rapid growth, and that can put unexpected strain on your IT resources. Speaking to an SME IT consultancy ahead of time is the best way to plan network expansions, as well as obtaining extra software licences as your workforce grows, so everyone has a working computer from the day they start.

Help with Optimising IT Infrastructure

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of optimising your IT infrastructure. Reduced energy bills, more reliable server connections, and enhanced productivity for individual employees can all have a direct impact on the bottom line of a growing business.

Where to start? Help with choosing the right services

We’ll look at some of the main types of IT support for small business customers at Venom IT – but before we do that, how do you know which services you need?

Size and Scale

Think about the size of your business, and how you expect to scale up over the next five years. IT investments you make now will underpin that growth and support your productivity at your future size. Hardware, software and user licences, along with scheduled maintenance contracts, are all part of what keeps your business going day after day.

Existing Infrastructure

It’s likely you already have some IT infrastructure in place. This can guide you when deciding on the types of small business IT support you need. Think also about anything you don’t currently have, but would like to add in the future e.g. real-time remote backup of data, VoIP telephony or reliable ultrafast business broadband.

Pain Points

Are there any aspects of your IT infrastructure that you and your employees complain about on a regular basis? There will always be occasional annoyances, but if the same issue is arising time and time again, it’s worth tackling it. It may be easier to resolve than you expect.

When to ask for advice?

If you’re already researching IT support services for small businesses, it’s probably already time to schedule an initial consultation. The team at Venom IT are always happy to discuss our services with no obligation, to help you figure out exactly what you need.

Which IT services do small businesses usually need?

At Venom IT we aim to provide a suite of SME IT support services that covers everything your growing business may need.

Some of the IT services we can include in your contract:

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing solutions revolutionise small businesses. It’s that simple. Unleash organisation-wide collaboration, store files remotely with secure real-time backups, provide Microsoft 365 software to new employees via instant downloads, and streamline voice and video communications via VoIP.

Managed IT Services

Our managed IT services range from fixing broken devices right up to full-scale Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – and we can grow with you as your needs change over time. You get the level of support you need with a bespoke contract for the most cost-efficient service possible.

SME Cyber Security

Small business cyber security should be a part of every IT support package, due to the high risk and high impact of hacks and data breaches. We can work with you to install antivirus and antimalware software, real-time monitoring of emails and attachments, and even train your staff to raise awareness of risks arising from mobile devices, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies and attempted phishing attacks. Comprehensive, cost-effective protection.

24/7 Tech Support

We will do everything we can to ensure nothing goes wrong with your IT infrastructure. But hardware failures, software glitches and human error do happen. When an incident impacts your data or your business continuity, we’ll be there – day or night – to get you back up and running, assess any losses or breaches, and help you decide how best to proceed.

How much does IT support cost for a small business?

No two businesses are the same, and you don’t want to pay for services you don’t need – especially on a small business budget.

That’s why the exact cost of an IT solution can vary substantially, based on elements such as the size of your organisation and the type and number of services you need.

However, it’s true to say that failing to invest in IT support can be much more costly in the long run, especially if you arrive to a broken server or disconnected broadband one morning.

Short-term and long-term gains

In the end, working with an MSP has short-term pay-offs in terms of helping growth and scalability, as well as improving productivity and reducing employee complaints.

Long-term, those gains become exponential as your company grows and productivity continues to pile up, such that the benefits of SME IT support far outweigh the initial financial investment.

Why choose Venom IT?

We welcome all enquiries, whether you’ve already chosen us or you’re comparing several providers – we’re confident that you’ll choose Venom IT in the end.

Our experienced, helpful team will be happy to discuss all of our service options with you, and we’ll be honest about what you do and don’t need.

From an audit and overhaul of your IT infrastructure, to putting in place SME cyber security measures to protect your mission-critical data, we’ll be your long-term tech support partner with 24/7 availability.

To schedule your initial consultation with a member of our team, contact Venom IT today.

A disaster recovery plan for IT company systems and data should be key to your cyber security strategy.

When protecting your network and files, it’s easy to focus on important things like your router’s firewall or antivirus software. However, good disaster recovery planning also considers how you can restore your operating system, programs, and data following an outage.

In this guide to effective IT disaster recovery management, we’ll examine in more detail the business value of implementing a disaster recovery plan and the process behind doing so.

What is an IT disaster recovery plan?

IT business continuity and disaster recovery are about preparedness—literally, planning for any future incident so that you can respond quickly if it occurs.

An obvious example of this is a ransomware attack, where you find your files locked and demand payment in return for the decryption key. However, not all disasters are malware-related.

Here are some common types of IT disaster recovery incidents:

Cyber Security

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common. In 2024, the UK government reported that half of businesses had experienced a cyber security breach over the preceding year.

This figure increased to 70% of medium-sized and 74% of large businesses, costing over £10,000 each for those affected firms.

Breaches can occur for various reasons, including viruses and malware, criminals impersonating a legitimate organisation, and phishing attacks.

Natural Disasters

Physical damage to IT infrastructure can occur due to natural disasters like fires and floods, both directly and due to electrical and internet outages in severe weather.

IT business continuity and disaster recovery planning should anticipate extreme weather events and plan to mitigate them.

That can include methods such as remote data backup so it can be retrieved from elsewhere and even an entire ‘Site B’ setup of workstations that can be activated at short notice.

Human Error

Not all disasters are caused by malicious activity. Simple human error can have catastrophic consequences.

A famous example of this occurred during the creation of Toy Story 2, when a Pixar employee typed a ‘delete’ command in the wrong place and erased 90% of the work done on characters, scenery and motion.

Galyn Susman, a producer on the movie, had been working from home after recently giving birth – and her computer was left with the only copy of those files.

While it wasn’t a deliberate remote backup – just a lucky coincidence – Toy Story 2 has become the shining example of why you should always keep data in more than one place.

Hardware/Software Failures

Finally, sometimes things just break. A hard drive failure can leave you with hard or even impossible-to-recover data. Software glitches can close a program without the chance to save your working files.

There are ways to protect against the vast majority of these incidents. Cloud computing has unlocked the potential of disaster recovery as a service.

Hourly incremental backups store your entire file system on a remote server in near real-time, so if you need to restore your data after an outage, you lose as little work as possible.

Why do I need to prepare my business for IT disaster recovery?

Any company that relies on data and computer systems to generate productivity and revenue should consider effective IT disaster recovery management essential.

You probably have an idea of what you would do if your car breaks down or your electricity cuts out. However, many organisations of all sizes have no plan to recover from an IT disaster.

This can result in lost productivity or, in the worst-case scenario, an existential threat to your entire company.

Financial Losses

As mentioned above, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology found that medium to large businesses lost an average of £10,830 each during the “single most disruptive breach” they had suffered in the previous 12 months.

Yet only 22% of all businesses surveyed said they had a formal incident response plan in place, rising to 55% of medium-sized companies and 73% of large corporations—that’s still less than three-quarters.

Reputational Damage

A lack of a rigorous disaster recovery plan for IT company systems can have a significant negative impact on PR and public perception of your brand.

In many cases, customers will choose to move their data elsewhere following a breach or will reduce the level of trust they put in your business.

Compliance and Enforcement

Avoidable data breaches are not looked upon favourably by regulators, including the Information Commissioner’s Office, which may launch an investigation following a hack or leak of any size.

Enforcement action can range from fines to removing regulatory authorisations, which could leave your business unable to operate in a particular sector due to a lack of compliance with data protection rules.

What does the procedure look like?

There’s a clear business case for detailed IT business continuity and disaster recovery planning, but what is the actual process involved?

Risk Assessment and Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

First, a comprehensive cyber security risk assessment is carried out to determine the incidents you are most likely to face and those that are less likely but high-impact.

At this stage, we are identifying the hardware, software, data and communications you use so that we can ensure that they are all properly protected going forward.

Data Backup and Recovery

Offsite data backup is a core element in IT disaster recovery management. It reduces the risk of losing sensitive data and, equally importantly, accelerates the speed of getting your systems up and running.

We can also conduct a Dark Web check to ensure none of your usernames and passwords have been leaked, which again reduces the chances of your files falling into the wrong hands.

Secure Communication Plan

In a connected world, data needs to be transferred – especially if you have multiple branch offices and/or a hybrid workforce.

We will put in place an efficient and secure communication plan so that your workforce can stay in touch and collaborate on files without exposing them to unnecessary external risks.

Penetration Testing

The best way to verify that a system is secure is to try to hack it. Once your disaster recovery plan is in place, we will simulate attacks and other incidents to test that it works as planned.

As it’s just a simulation, all of this is done without risking your data. This means we can identify any remaining vulnerabilities and date your business continuity plan to factor them in.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any remaining questions, please contact us and ask. We’ll be happy to help. Here are a few of the disaster recovery FAQs we get asked most often:

What is the difference between business continuity and disaster recovery?

The two are closely related. Business continuity ensures your organisation can continue functioning during an emergency, whereas disaster recovery is coordinating the response and minimising losses.

You can find much more detail about the similarities and differences between the two in our Business Continuity vs Disaster Recovery infographic.

How often should I update my disaster recovery plan?

It’s important to review your disaster recovery plan regularly, even if you don’t update it. We recommend doing this annually at the very least and often for larger firms or if your data is at the core of your profit-making activities.

We can put in place a schedule to audit and update your disaster recovery plan on a quarterly or monthly basis if needed – we’re here for you as often as you need us.

How easy is it to create a disaster recovery plan?

A good disaster recovery plan should be fully comprehensive and based on a rigorous audit of your systems, including hardware, software, network security, and staff cyber security awareness training.

Many firms of all sizes choose to outsource disaster recovery to benefit from specialist IT consultancy expertise. If you’re in any doubt about how to create a disaster recovery plan, it’s best left to the experts.

Does my business need an IT disaster recovery procedure?

If your business productivity, revenue or profit depends on computers, data, the internet, or even IP-based phone calls in any way, it’s important to get a disaster recovery audit carried out.

Your disaster recovery plan might not need to be complex – just some remote backup and a 24/7 emergency number to call in case of an outage – or it might involve installing cyber security software to thousands of workstations.

Ultimately, it’s about getting the IT disaster recovery procedure you need. But if you rely on IT to conduct business, you should definitely have a plan in place.

There’s good reason to improve password security in 2024. The UK government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 found that 84% of businesses who suffered an attack in the past 12 months were targeted by phishing emails – and that’s just one way passwords can leak.

For medium to large businesses, the average cost of a breach is over £10,000, and for companies of all sizes it’s over £1,200. If you’re keen to improve password security for 2025, our top 6 password tips have got you covered.

Remember, it’s good practice to carry out a Cyber Security Risk Assessment on a regular basis, to check that your systems are still secure and to protect against emerging threats.

1. Make a point of variation

Top on our list of password security tips is one of the most common mistakes people make, and that’s using one plain-text password for every website or system.

Using a variety of randomly generated passwords means that if your credentials fall into the wrong hands, a maximum of just one login is compromised. If you use the same password on every site, your entire online identity could be under threat.

This is also a good reason to carry out a Dark Web check for leaked passwords as part of any IT disaster recovery procedures.

2. Use password managers

A secure password manager is a great addition to your preventative cyber security measures. It can store those long, randomly generated, unique passwords so that you don’t have to write them down or risk forgetting them.

Of course, it’s important to protect access to the password manager itself – but it’s much easier to do that than it is to secure everything else if your password is weak.

3. Maximise characters and sequencing

Third in our list of password best practices is probably the most annoying aspect of generating a secure password, but it’s one that you shouldn’t neglect. Nowadays, you’ll often be prompted to include one uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters (such as * # @ £ etc.). But when you’re not prompted, this isn’t because the website is super secure! It’s simply a lax registration system, so it’s even more important to follow this rule.

For example, a 3-digit numbers-only password has 1,000 combinations (ranging from 000 to 999). Add the 26 lower-case letters to the 10 digits and you get 36 x 36 x 36 possible passwords, a total of 46,656 different options. Add upper-case into the mix and that number rises to nearly 240,000 for just a three-character password.

According to Security.org, an 11-letter lower-case password can be cracked by brute force in a day. But a 12-character password with upper and lower case, punctuation and numbers would take up to 34,000 years to hack. It’s worth making that extra effort.

4. Avoid easily identifiable keywords

Another of the top password best practices is to avoid using personal information in your password. We’ve all seen movies where a character’s computer gets hacked because their password is the name of their pet dog – don’t be that person in real life.

Human error is one of the most common risks to cyber security, and that includes choosing a password that is easy to guess.

This again goes back to the benefits of using long, randomly generated, unique and complex passwords (and it’s a reason why using all of these top 6 password tips is better than using just one or two).

5. Add layers of protection

Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, is commonplace when logging into online banking and some social networks. It ensures that even with your password, an unauthorised individual cannot log into your account without a one-time PIN or passcode that is sent to your phone or email.

If you’d like to know more about how to implement this on your own systems, ask your cyber security provider for advice. All of the other password security tips on this list still apply, but 2FA adds that extra layer of protection during the actual act of logging in.

6. Have some social awareness

With more cyber crime every year, social awareness is higher on the agenda than ever when it comes to protecting your password security in 2024. Employees should be trained to spot phishing attempts and suspicious links, as well as spoof online forms that hope to collect your login details.

It’s important not to let your guard down, especially as your human workforce is located inside your network’s secure firewall. In case a successful hack slips through that safety net, make sure you invest in cloud-based disaster recovery as a service to get you back up and running.

The coming months will start to reveal the developing trends in password security for 2025, but following our password best practice tips will give you a head start against the hackers. If you haven’t reviewed your passwords recently, make a plan to do so before the end of the year.

If you would like to speak to one of our experts about how to make your systems even more secure using 2FA, email antivirus and other techniques, ask Venom IT about our security solutions today.

At Venom IT we provide a whole range of services to clients of all sizes. For our small business customers, that includes a choice between Managed IT and IT Support. But is managed IT and IT support the same thing, and if not, what’s the difference?

This guide will give you a better understanding of both terms, how they’re similar, and the difference between managed IT and IT support. If you need any more help deciding between our small business IT services, please contact us directly and we’ll be happy to help.

Is Managed IT and IT Support just the same thing?

Before we dive into a full comparison of managed IT vs IT support, let’s deal with the big question: Is managed IT and IT support the same thing?

The short answer is no, it’s not the same thing. One key difference between managed IT and IT support is when and why you use the service.

In simple terms:

 

So there’s a difference in scope and in the ‘style’ of support you receive. You can think of it as being similar to planned and responsive maintenance on your premises. Managed IT is the preventative maintenance that keeps things running smoothly, and IT Support is the reaction and repair following an outage.

IT Support explanation

IT Support is a key part of our IT Consulting service. A comprehensive IT consultation plan should allow for the potential of future problems, no matter how carefully you mitigate risks or improve Cyber Security.

There are many elements to an IT Support contract, covering round-the-clock telephone support and rapid response in-person engineers to repair damaged hardware.

At Venom IT we offer specific support for Microsoft 365 applications (including Outlook 365 email) and for small businesses with remote workers.

We offer a 24/7 business-critical response service with two-hour SLAs (including for cyber attacks) to minimise the negative impact on your business and reduce disaster recovery times.

Managed IT explanation

Managed IT is another way in which Venom IT helps small businesses to thrive. The success of your business should not depend on your personal understanding of server load balancing or how to encrypt email on a Microsoft Exchange server.

You might prefer to think of it as outsourced IT management. We worry about your hardware, software and the security of your data, so that you can focus on the activities that make you money.

Managed IT underpinned by an in-depth Cyber Security Risk Assessment not only improves your business continuity, it can also protect you against costly fines and reputational damage associated with a data breach.

Venom IT blocked more than 200,000 viruses in emails in just 12 months, leading us to include Threat Migration Services on our list of top technology trends in 2024. These numbers are likely to get higher in the years ahead, making outsourced IT management a crucial investment for any growing business.

Key differences

We’ve already touched on the major difference between Managed IT vs IT Support, in terms of one being an ongoing service and the other being largely responsive in nature.

By outsourcing your IT management to Venom IT long-term, you’ll benefit from us having a deeper understanding of the systems you have in place. We can also spot problems when they are only just emerging, before they have any real negative impact on your operations.

IT Support is an essential safety net when you need it. Even if you have some in-house IT expertise, it’s good to have an external IT consultant on hand for when something happens that you’re not sure how to fix.

Remember too that keeping your IT infrastructure in good condition requires continual optimisation, hardware upgrades and software updates, or your systems will eventually become obsolete.

Managed IT can cater for this with regular IT audits, whereas IT Support can cover one-off expansions of your network. It all depends on what you need.

Which is best for a small business?

The vast majority of small businesses who use IT systems in any way could benefit from having a Managed IT contract in place. The potential to reduce your admin burden, prevent IT outages and free up time for profit-making activities is huge.

But whether or not you have an ongoing Managed IT arrangement in place, one-off IT Support is also there for you if and when you need it. It’s not a case of either-or, it’s all about keeping your systems running, and restoring them if they ever fail.

Conclusion

Venom IT’s versatile IT services for small businesses span fully and partially managed contracts, outsourced IT consultancy and one-off IT support. Whatever you need, we’re here for it.To find out more, contact Venom IT today and our friendly team will talk you through all the options.

Cyber security is an area where all SMEs need to regularly reassess their level of protection. The ever-growing prevalence of cyber threats to small businesses means that, even if you have taken action in the past, you may now be more exposed than you think.

At the same time, research shows that business owners often underestimate the financial cost and business interruption arising from SME cyber security risks.

Venom IT are the experts in cyber security for SMEs. As part of our suite of small business IT services, we can audit your risk level and make recommendations that will help to protect you against the type of cyber threats that are affecting SMEs like yours right now.

How has cyber security changed in 2024?

The threat landscape changes all the time, as hackers discover new vulnerabilities and exploit different techniques to gain access to private data.

Here are just some examples of cyber security trends in 2024, which are worth taking into account when planning ahead for the coming year.

1 in 4 SMEs concerned about remote working cyber risks

The pandemic led to an overnight surge in the number of people working remotely, with many employees still reluctant to return to the office five days a week.

This has raised concerns for UK SMEs. According to a survey by small business insurer Markel Direct, a quarter of SMEs are worried about how to properly secure their remote working environments.

Alongside this dilemma, a massive 62% said they are troubled by the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.

Nearly half of the survey’s respondents did not think they were ready for an attack – and said that they would not know what steps to take if they were to fall victim.

Zero-day vulnerabilities top list of biggest cyber threats

Cyber attacks can happen fast. In November 2024, the national cyber security centres of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand co-authored an advisory note warning about zero-day exploits.

Zero-day vulnerabilities are weaknesses in software code that have not yet been patched, and are one way hackers can gain access to high-profile networks.

Among the 15 most-exploited vulnerabilities in 2023, more than half were zero-day weaknesses, highlighting the importance of real-time protection backed by regular software updates.

Ollie Whitehouse, chief technology officer at the UK National Cyber Security Centre, said: “We urge network defenders to be vigilant with vulnerability management, have situational awareness in operations and call on product developers to make security a core component of product design.”

What are the most common cyber security issues that affect SMEs?

The UK government published its Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 based on surveys conducted over the winter of 2023-24. It detailed the most common SME cyber security risks during that time.

According to the report, the most common cyber threats to small businesses were:

Many businesses report experiencing multiple kinds of attack during the same time period, which is why the percentages shown sum to more than 100%.

The research also found the average cost of each respondent’s most serious breach to be around £1,200, although this increased to more than £10,800 for medium to large businesses.

What happens when there’s a breach?

When a breach occurs, the first and foremost thing to do is to plug the hole. Allowing a vulnerability to remain exposed opens you up to repeat attacks, which could increase your financial losses both directly and as a result of any later enforcement penalties.

This is why Venom IT offer 24/7 support as part of our IT services for small businesses. Hacks can occur at any time of day or night and we want to be here for you when they do.

It’s important to identify the source of the breach. Once you know how the hackers have gained access to your systems, you can take mitigating action, either by changing login passwords, reinforcing your network’s firewall, updating virus definitions, and so on.

Do I need to inform the ICO of a data breach?

You may need to inform the Information Commissioner’s Office if a breach of customers’ personal details has occurred. That doesn’t mean you’ll be investigated.

In Q3 2024, 50% of incidents reported to the ICO featured fewer than ten people’s personal data. Only 2% of these resulted in an investigation by the ICO.

We can help you decide whether you need to report an incident – but we would rather help to stop it from happening at all.

Can SMEs afford cyber security?

Investing in security solutions is largely a business decision. While you might want to protect your customers’ data as an ethical concern, it’s obviously preferable for any profit-making company if this decision is backed by solid financials.

However, research by Sky Business found that SMEs underestimate the cost of cyber threats to small businesses by nearly 70%. Companies who had suffered a breach in the past said it cost them around £124,000 and an average of four days’ interruption to trading.

In comparison, SMEs not yet affected by a cyber attack estimated that it would cost them just £40,000. One in six thought they would be able to continue trading without any closure, whereas one in four SMEs who had been through a cyber attack expected any future incidents to take them offline for at least eight days.

Assess the added value of cyber security

All of this is to say that you need to make an informed decision based on real industry data, and on your company’s own unique circumstances.

Venom IT’s Cyber Security Risk Assessment can do this for you, identifying potential vulnerabilities so that you know the threat level to your business, and can accurately forecast the significant added value of investing in cyber security for SMEs.

How does a small business get the right protection?

Navigating the world of SME cyber security risks can be challenging, especially if it’s not an area you’ve dealt with in your past personal or professional life.

This isn’t really something you can guess. If you want to guarantee the best level of protection for your business, work with an IT company like Venom IT with a proven track record of helping smaller businesses.

It’s a good idea to have a checklist of key cyber security questions to ask your IT provider, so that you know their recommendations are comprehensive and well-informed.

We’re always happy to discuss our services with SMEs, with no upfront obligations. To talk about how to get the right cyber security protection for your business, contact Venom IT today or call our sales team on 0330 202 0220.