Cyber security solutions for UK businesses: practical help for 10–200 staff
If your firm has between 10 and 200 people, you sit in a tricky spot. You’re big enough to be useful to cyber criminals, but not always big enough to carry a full-time security team. This guide explains practical Cyber security solutions you can use to protect your business, keep customers confident and avoid disruption — without drowning in technical jargon or vendor-speak.
Why cyber security matters for your business
When a laptop, server or cloud account is compromised, the damage is rarely just an IT problem. There’s lost time while systems are restored, interrupted work, potential legal and regulatory headaches (think data protection and contractual duties), and the reputational hit if customers’ data is involved. Those are costs in cash, credibility and calm — all of which affect your bottom line.
Cyber security solutions are not about building an impenetrable fortress. They’re about reducing the chances of an incident and limiting the impact when something does go wrong. For a typical UK firm, that means using sensible controls, training staff, and having a clear plan so recovery is quick and clean.
Common threats to watch for
- Phishing and business email compromise: staff are tricked into giving credentials or paying fake invoices.
- Ransomware: files are encrypted or held to ransom, halting work until restored.
- Credential theft and account takeover: reused passwords or weak accounts get exploited.
- Data leaks: accidental or malicious exposure of customer or employee data.
- Supply-chain risk: a supplier’s breach hits you through shared systems or data.
Which Cyber security solutions actually help a business like yours?
There’s a long list of products and vendors. The right combination depends on what you do, how you work and how much resource you can spare. Here are the cost-effective, high-impact solutions that tend to matter most for organisations of your size.
1. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA is the cheapest big win. It protects accounts even if passwords are stolen. Make it mandatory for email, cloud services and any admin accounts. It’s straightforward to roll out and saves an awful lot of hassle.
2. Backups and recovery
Regular, tested backups are insurance. Back up critical systems and verify you can restore quickly. Backups are only useful if you’ve tested the restore process — a daily snapshot that can’t be restored isn’t much use.
3. Managed endpoint protection
Endpoint protection (anti-malware, detection and response) that’s centrally managed reduces incidents across laptops and desktops. For many businesses, a managed service that keeps signatures, rules and patches up to date is a better use of time than juggling installs on individual machines.
4. Patch management
Vulnerable software is an open door. Ensure systems and third-party apps are patched regularly. If you can’t patch immediately, have compensating controls (network segmentation, limited admin rights).
5. Email filtering and safe links
Email is still the most common delivery method for scams. Filtering reduces junk and blocks known threats; safe-linking rewrites suspicious URLs so they’re checked when clicked.
6. Staff training and simple policies
Technical defences are necessary but not sufficient. Regular, practical training for staff — focused on the threats they encounter — prevents the common mistakes that lead to breaches. Keep policies short and clear: how to report a suspected scam, who authorises payments, and what to do if a device is lost.
7. Incident response planning
Know who does what if something goes wrong. An incident plan doesn’t need to be a 50‑page manual — a concise checklist with key contacts, decision routes and recovery priorities is worth its weight in calm.
8. Managed services and security-as-a-service
If you don’t have a dedicated security team, a managed security provider can run monitoring, patching and incident response for you. Look for providers who explain outcomes (time to detect, time to recover) in plain language, not tech specs.
Regulation and standards — what to keep an eye on in the UK
UK businesses have to think about data protection (GDPR/UK GDPR) and, depending on sector, industry-specific rules. There are also useful frameworks and certifications that help customers and partners trust you. Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are UK schemes designed for exactly this audience: attainable controls that cut risk and are recognised by local buyers.
Follow guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) for small and medium-sized organisations — it’s practical and plainly written. For regulated sectors, check sector-specific requirements early when evaluating solutions.
How to choose a supplier — what matters to your business
Vendors sell features; you buy outcomes. Here’s a short checklist to use when evaluating cyber security solutions suppliers:
- Outcomes: ask how they measure success — faster recovery time, fewer disruptions, less downtime for staff.
- Clarity: they should explain what they’ll do, why it matters and what your responsibilities are.
- Transparency on cost: watch for hidden fees for add-ons you’ll need later (licences, support hours, onboarding).
- Practical onboarding: small teams can’t afford six months of disruption. Ask for a phased plan with immediate wins.
- Reporting: you need concise reports that help board/stakeholders understand risk — not pages of logs.
- Local knowledge: familiarity with UK regulation and common local threats is a plus.
How much will it cost?
There’s no single price. Costs depend on the number of users, the complexity of systems and your appetite for risk. Think in terms of prioritising: essentials first (MFA, backups, email filtering, patching), then add managed detection and response or staff training as budget allows. Framed differently: the small additional monthly spend on prevention often avoids a much larger one-off cost when things go wrong.
Measuring return: the business case for Cyber security solutions
Build the case around time and risk rather than obscure technical metrics. Questions that resonate with decision-makers:
- How many staff-hours would you save by avoiding one incident?
- What would it cost to restore systems if key data were encrypted?
- Does improved security make you more likely to win contracts where suppliers expect basic certification?
Good cyber security reduces downtime and protects reputation — both of which translate into measurable business outcomes.
Quick checklist to get started (for the next 90 days)
- Enable MFA on all critical accounts and cloud services.
- Confirm backups exist for important systems and test one restore.
- Ensure automatic security updates are enabled where possible; schedule a patching window for others.
- Put an incident contact list and a short response checklist where staff can find it.
- Run a short staff briefing on phishing — tell people what to look for and how to report.
FAQ
How much security do I need for a business with 10–200 staff?
Enough to reduce the most likely risks and to allow quick recovery if something happens. Start with fundamentals (MFA, backups, patching, email filtering and staff awareness). From there, add monitoring or managed services depending on your risk profile and budget.
Can I rely on my existing IT support to provide Cyber security solutions?
Many IT support firms cover basic security, but not all offer dedicated security monitoring or incident response. Ask your provider what they include, how they report incidents, and whether they have experience with business continuity and regulatory compliance.
How long does it take to see benefits?
Some benefits (like MFA and email filtering) can reduce risk within days. Others, such as cultural change from training or building an incident response capability, take a few months. Prioritise quick wins first, then build resilience gradually.
Do I need Cyber Essentials or other certifications?
Certifications are not mandatory for every business, but Cyber Essentials is a practical way to demonstrate basic controls to customers and partners. If you work with government or certain sectors, certifications may be required by contracts.
Final thoughts
Cyber security solutions are not a one-off purchase; they’re a set of sensible decisions that protect time, money and reputation. For UK businesses with 10–200 staff, the sensible route is to get the basics right, use managed services where helpful, and keep plans simple and tested. That way you reduce the chance of being the firm everyone hears about — and increase the chance of being the calm, reliable partner customers want.
If you want to explore practical steps tailored to your business, start with a short review of accounts, backups and a phishing run-through. The result should be less downtime, clearer evidence for customers and more confidence across the team — and that’s the sort of return any business owner can appreciate.
