Why the Chancellor Just Wrote to UK CEOs: Cyber Attacks Surge 50%

Ministers have sent an urgent letter to UK business leaders after the NCSC handled 204 nationally significant cyber incidents in the past year, with 18 "highly significant" incidents – a 50% increase for the third consecutive year. Join Mauven MacLeod and Graham Falkner as they unpack the government's wake-up call and translate ministerial warnings into concrete actions every business leader can take today.

What You'll Learn

• Why the Chancellor and three Cabinet Ministers personally co-signed an urgent letter to UK business leaders -  Ministerial letter on cyber security
• The shocking NCSC statistics: nearly half of all incidents were nationally significant, with highly significant incidents up 50%
• Real-world impact: empty supermarket shelves, healthcare disruption causing deaths, and £300m+ losses for single organisations
• The three specific government requests that will have an immediate impact on your cyber resilience  - Ministerial letter on cyber security
• Practical first steps you can take this week (most are free)

Key Quotes

"Any leader who fails to prepare for that scenario is jeopardising their business's future... It is time to act." - Richard Horne, CEO of NCSC

"Hostile cyber activity in the UK is growing more intense, frequent and sophisticated. There is a direct and active threat to our economic and national security." - Ministerial Letter, 13 October 2025 - Ministerial letter on cyber security

"While you can plan meticulously, nothing truly prepares you for the moment a real cyber event unfolds. The intensity, urgency and unpredictability of a live attack is unlike anything you can rehearse." - Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of The Co-op Group

Resources Mentioned

• Ministerial Letter (13 Oct 2025)
• NCSC Annual Review 2025
• Free Cyber Governance Training for Boards
• Early Warning Service (Free) - 13,000+ organisations already signed up
• Cyber Essentials - 92% reduction in insurance claims
• Cyber Action Toolkit - Free for small businesses

Take Action This Week

1. Sign up for NCSC Early Warning (free)
2. Read the ministerial letter
3. Add cyber security to your next Board agenda
4. Check if MFA is enabled on critical systems

About the Hosts

Mauven MacLeod - Ex-NCSC cyber security expert with Glasgow roots who translates government-level threat intelligence into practical advice for small businesses.

Graham Falkner - The unmistakable voice from UK cinema trailers, now bringing his theatrical gravitas and storytelling skills to demystify cybersecurity for business leaders.

Connect

Visit our blog: thesmallbusinesscybersecurityguy.co.uk

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Episode Length: ~8 minutes

Bottom line: Nearly half of NCSC incidents are now nationally significant. It's time to act.