Your Business Data Is a Target. Here Is How to Protect It.

43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber breach or attack in the past year (DSIT 2025). The average cost of an impactful breach sits at GBP 8,260, and for professional services firms handling sensitive client data, the real figure is often far higher once you factor in lost clients, regulatory action, and reputational damage.

The good news: most breaches exploit basic, preventable weaknesses. The 10 steps below are practical, actionable, and relevant whether you run an accountancy practice, a law firm, a recruitment agency, or any other professional services business.

Even if you never work with us, implementing these steps will significantly reduce your risk. Print this list. Share it with your team. Use it as a checklist.

Not sure where your vulnerabilities are right now? Run a credential exposure check or call 0151 452 3060. It takes minutes and shows you exactly what is already exposed.

The 10 Steps

1. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication on Every Account

Only 40% of UK businesses use MFA on email (DSIT 2025). That means 60% of businesses have email accounts protected by nothing more than a password. MFA is the single most impactful security control you can implement. Start with email, then extend to cloud services, VPNs, and any system holding sensitive data.

Vertical example: For accountancy practices using Sage or Xero, enabling MFA on those platforms protects client financial data from credential-stuffing attacks.

2. Patch and Update Everything, Promptly

Unpatched software is one of the most common entry points for attackers. Set operating systems, applications, and firmware to update automatically where possible. For line-of-business applications like Proclaim, SIMS, or Bullhorn, schedule monthly patch reviews with your IT team.

3. Train Your Team to Spot Phishing

85% of cyber attacks start with a phishing email (DSIT 2025). Training is not a one-off exercise. Run simulated phishing tests quarterly, discuss real-world examples in team meetings, and make it easy for staff to report suspicious emails without fear of blame.

Vertical example: Law firms are frequently targeted with conveyancing fraud emails impersonating solicitors or clients. SRA compliance requires firms to demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to prevent this.

4. Control Access with Least Privilege

Every user should have access only to the systems and data they need for their role. When someone changes role or leaves, revoke access immediately. This limits the damage if an account is compromised and reduces insider risk.

5. Encrypt Sensitive Data in Transit and at Rest

Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted or stolen, it remains unreadable without the decryption key. Microsoft 365 provides built-in encryption for email and files. Make sure it is enabled and configured correctly.

6. Implement Tested, Reliable Backups

Backups are worthless if they have never been tested. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of your data, on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite or in the cloud. Test a restore at least quarterly. Ask your IT provider: “When did you last test our backups?” If they cannot answer immediately, that tells you something.

Want to know where your business stands right now?

A vulnerability assessment examines your external-facing systems, identifies weaknesses, and delivers a prioritised report showing what to fix first. CREST-accredited methodology. Results within 48 hours.

Book a vulnerability assessment or call 0151 452 3060.

7. Secure Your Network Perimeter

Configure firewalls properly, segment your network so that a breach in one area cannot spread freely, and ensure remote access is secured with MFA and encrypted connections. If staff work from home, their home network security becomes your business risk.

8. Monitor for Credential Exposure

Stolen credentials from third-party breaches are sold and traded constantly. A credential exposure check tells you which of your business email addresses and passwords are already circulating. This is not theoretical risk. It is data you can act on today.

Vertical example: Recruitment agencies handling candidate data through platforms like Bullhorn or Vincere need to know immediately if staff credentials have been compromised, because those credentials could unlock access to thousands of candidate records.

9. Build an Incident Response Plan

When a breach happens, the first 24 hours determine whether it is a contained incident or a full-blown crisis. Document who does what: who isolates systems, who contacts your IT provider, who handles client communication, who reports to the ICO. Rehearse it. Under GDPR, you have 72 hours to report certain breaches to the ICO. You cannot build a plan during a crisis.

10. Work with a Specialist Security Partner

Most businesses have someone who “does their IT.” That covers the day-to-day. But security architecture, compliance, threat monitoring, and incident response require specialist expertise. A co-managed approach works well: your existing IT handles daily support while a specialist like Hilt Digital provides the security and cloud layer, working alongside your team rather than replacing them.

The Checklist You Can Use Today

Here is a quick self-assessment. Score yourself honestly:

  • MFA enabled on all email accounts? Yes / No
  • Software updates applied within 14 days? Yes / No
  • Phishing training delivered in the last 6 months? Yes / No
  • Access revoked for all former employees? Yes / No
  • Backups tested in the last quarter? Yes / No
  • Incident response plan documented and rehearsed? Yes / No

If you answered “No” to more than two of those, your business has gaps that attackers actively look for.

What to Do Next

Prevention is always cheaper than recovery. The average UK breach costs GBP 8,260 (DSIT 2025), and it takes an average of 241 days to detect a breach (IBM 2025). That is eight months of an attacker having access to your systems before anyone notices.

Three ways to close the gap:

  1. Credential exposure check – Find out if your business credentials are already exposed. Takes minutes.
  2. Vulnerability assessment – A CREST-accredited assessment of your external security posture, with a prioritised remediation report.
  3. H-Protect Standard (from GBP 55/user/month) – Ongoing protection including endpoint security, email threat protection, credential breach monitoring, and quarterly vulnerability scanning.

Book your vulnerability assessment or call 0151 452 3060. We are based in Liverpool and work with businesses across the North West.