UK businesses

A reported 612,000 UK companies have been breached, with the breach rate reaching 43% in 2026. The figures suggest a sharp deterioration in the UK's corporate cyber security posture, affecting businesses of all sizes. Commentators are likely to scrutinise the methodology behind the numbers and press firms and regulators on whether current defences and disclosure practices are keeping pace with escalating attacks.

Cybersecurity firm ESET is warning that 49% of UK small and medium-sized businesses could be breached by 2026. The figure highlights growing concern that smaller firms, which often lack dedicated security teams, are increasingly targeted by cyber attackers. Experts are urging SMBs to invest in basic protections such as patching, staff training and endpoint security.