The Aporia · More than a third of small UK firms impacted by hacks

More than a third of small UK firms impacted by hacks – report

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Williams, H. (2026, September 15). More than a third of small UK firms impacted by hacks – report. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tech/hiscox-b1296997.html

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Quick Summary

A recent report based on a survey of nearly 7,000 cybersecurity decision-makers from smaller firms globally, including 1,000 from the UK, reveals that over one-third of small British companies experienced at least one successful cyber attack in the past year. These attacks cost affected UK businesses an average of £26,650 each and caused operational disruptions lasting around 32 hours. The report highlights increased spending on cybersecurity measures, with UK firms investing an average of £44,294 annually to protect against threats.

Written by AI on 2026-09-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Nearly two in five small British businesses were hit by a cyber attack in the past year, costing each affected firm an average of nearly £26,650. A global survey involving nearly 7,000 cybersecurity decision-makers from smaller firms worldwide, including 1,000 from the UK, revealed that British companies were among the most vulnerable. Globally, the study found that cyber incidents cost firms an average of £38,604 annually and resulted in around 32 hours of operational disruption. Moreover, almost one-third (32%) of companies worldwide reported that such attacks delayed growth and expansion plans, while similar percentages noted increased staffing costs (31%), financial damage (30%), and lost business opportunities (29%). Additionally, over a quarter of impacted firms faced financial penalties due to these incidents.

Written for “UK Small Firm Cyber Attacks” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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20%

2 of 10 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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65/100

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Who wrote this

Holly Williams

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Claims (10 extracted, 2 hedged)

Nearly two in five small British businesses were hit by a cyber attack in the past year at a cost of nearly £27,000 each, according to new research. uncertain

businesses → hit → research

The report – based on results of a global survey of nearly 7,000 cybersecurity decision-makers in smaller firms, including 1,000 in the UK – found British firms were the most vulnerable among their global counterparts, with 29% worldwide saying they were hit by a successful cyber attack. asserted

they → base → attack

Those affected globally reported an average of four cyber attack incidents over the same period. asserted

Those → affect → period

In the UK, the cost of each cyber attack was 35,908 US dollars on average (£26,650), according to the study. uncertain

cost → accord → study

Cyber incidents now cost firms worldwide around 52,000 US dollars a year on average (£38,604) and cause around 32 hours of operational disruption, it found. But the survey shows the impacts can be far-reaching, with almost one in three (32%) of companies worldwide saying it delayed growth and expansion plans, and similar results for those saying it increased staffing costs (31%), caused financial damage (30%) and saw business opportunities lost (29%). asserted

opportunities → cost → %

And more than a quarter of those impacted by a hack also faced financial penalties (28%), or bad publicity (26%). asserted

quarter → impact → penalties

Firms are spending significant sums to ward off the threat of hacks, with the study revealing the average UK small firm spend on resilience measures is now 59,700 dollars (£44,294) – the third highest worldwide and above the 51,000 US dollar (£38,000) global average. asserted

spend → spend → average

There is also an increasing trend to link pay for top bosses to cybersecurity, with 25% of small UK firms now doing so, and 32% worldwide. asserted

% → be → firms

Eddie Lamb, global head of cyber at Hiscox, said: “During our 20-plus years of insuring cyber risks and our decade of cyber readiness research, we’ve seen a clear shift in the cyber threat and how businesses respond to it. asserted

businesses → say → it

“Cyber risk has become a recurring cost, not an exceptional event, so the investment we’re seeing in cyber resilience is good news as businesses start to take back control.” asserted

businesses → become → control

More than a third of small UK firms impacted by hacks – report

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Claims (10 extracted, 2 hedged)