Cyber Security Tips for SMEs in Manchester – Essential guide 2025

Over the past year, we’ve seen more and more small businesses across Manchester and the UK being hit by cyber-attacks. Several of the companies we work with have been targeted directly, and the scale of these incidents highlights just how vulnerable SMEs can be when criminals exploit weaknesses in their defences.

One of the biggest challenges for smaller businesses is that they often don’t have the same level of protection as larger organisations. Limited budgets and fewer IT staff (if any) mean cyber security sometimes gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Unfortunately, criminals know this, and they take full advantage.

In this blog we will go through the essentials of cyber security, why you need to implement cyber security measures, the most common types of attacks you need to be aware of, and, most importantly, what you can do as a small business to reduce the chances of your business being attacked or affected by cybercrime.  

Implementing strong cyber security measures could be a deciding factor if your business will survive an attack or not. Here’s why:

The UK Government reports that 43% of small businesses experienced some kind of cyber security breach or attack within the last 12 months.

With figures like these, it’s fair to say that most businesses will face a cyber-attack at some point. The question isn’t really if it will happen, but when.

And without even the most basic protections in place, something as simple as a phishing email, the most common type of cyber-attack, could be enough to bring your business to a standstill.

The UK government also reports that the average cost of a cyber-attack for a business falls between £1,600 and £3,550. However, these figures likely underestimate the true financial impact, as they don’t always include expenses such as legal advice, regulatory fines, system repairs, or the cost of downtime when normal operations halt.

And while a few thousand pounds may not seem significant in the grand scheme of things, for a small business with limited resources it can place a real strain on cash flow and operations, especially when much of this cost is preventable with the right security measures.

For small and local businesses, customer trust is hard-earned but easily lost. Without good cyber security, a single slip-up can put sensitive data at risk and drive your loyal customers to competitors. And while we see big organisations recover from such attacks reasonably quick, for small businesses that’s not usually the case.

With strong cyber security and a response plan, you’ll be able to deal with issues quickly and carry on with minimal disruption. Rather than reacting in a panic, your business can respond calmly, reduce downtime, and continue operating even while tackling an attack.

Hopefully, we’ve convinced you that protecting your business from cyber-crime is a must. So, let’s break down the key threats you need to be aware of.

One of the most common threats facing SMEs is phishing, where attackers send deceptive emails, texts, or even social media messages to trick employees. These scams often look like they’re from a trusted source, such as a colleague, supplier, or bank, and can lead to sensitive details being shared or malicious files being downloaded without realising.

Malware is a general term for malicious software designed to damage or disrupt systems, often spread through infected files, dodgy downloads, or unsafe websites. Ransomware is one of the most harmful types, as it encrypts a company’s files and demands payment to unlock them. For SMEs, this can completely halt operations, and without reliable backups or strong defences, full recovery might be impossible.

In a business email compromise, cybercriminals gain access to company email accounts and use them to send fake invoices or payment requests. Because these emails look like they come from a trusted contact, they’re extremely convincing and often result in financial loss before anyone realises what’s happened.

• Data breaches – Attackers steal sensitive customer or business information, which can then be sold or misused.
• DDoS attacks (Distributed Denial-of-Service) – Criminals flood a network or website with fake traffic, forcing systems offline and disrupting services.
• Weak or stolen passwords – One of the simplest ways for hackers to break in, often giving them the access they need to launch much larger attacks.

Oftentimes cyber criminals combine different types of attacks to increase their chances of success. For example, a phishing email might be used to steal login details, which are then used to launch a data breach or spread ransomware. By recognising the different types of cyber threats, you can start taking simple, practical steps to strengthen your security. The more you understand what’s out there, the easier it is to spot the warning signs early and reduce the chances of your business falling victim. That said, awareness alone isn’t enough. Cyber-attacks can still happen, which is why having a strong security system and response plan in place is so important.

Now that we’ve covered the main threats, let’s look at the practical steps you can take to protect your business. These simple but effective measures can make a huge difference for SMEs:

Human error is one of the biggest risks for small businesses, with staff often targeted through phishing emails or fraudulent requests, that are now getting even more convincing and harder to spot. Regular, straightforward training will help your employees recognise these threats, understand safe online practices, and know how to respond if something looks suspicious. For SMEs, raising staff awareness is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to strengthen cyber security, turning your team into the first line of defence.

Weak or reused passwords remain one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to break into business systems. For small and local businesses, a stolen password could give attackers access to emails, financial records, or even customer data. That’s why it’s essential to enforce strong password policies, encouraging long, unique passwords that are regularly updated, and to back this up with multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

Outdated software is easily exploited by cybercriminals. For small businesses, this can mean hackers gaining access through something as simple as an old plugin or operating system. Keeping software, apps, and security tools up to date is a straightforward but powerful way to close these gaps. Wherever possible, enable automatic updates so vulnerabilities are fixed as soon as patches are released.

Your business network is a gateway that cybercriminals are always looking to exploit, which is why you must implement Firewalls and secure Wi-Fi networks. Firewalls act as a protective barrier, monitoring and blocking suspicious traffic before it reaches your systems. At the same time, Wi-Fi networks should always be secured with strong encryption and unique passwords, not the default settings many routers come with. For businesses that have implemented remote and hybrid working, setting up separate guest networks and using VPNs for staff working off-site adds an extra layer of security.

There’s no question that data is one of the most valuable assets for any small business and losing it can be devastating. Reliable backup solutions give you a safety net, ensuring that even if files are deleted, corrupted, or locked by ransomware, they can be restored quickly. For SMEs, combining local and cloud-based backups, and testing them regularly, is the best way to make sure your business can recover without long delays.

Installing reputable antivirus and anti-malware software adds an essential layer of protection, helping to detect and block threats before they cause serious damage. Just as important as installing it, though, is keeping the software updated, since new strains of malware emerge all the time. Taking this simple step can help you avoid costly downtime and prevent serious data loss.

Using email encryption helps keep sensitive information secure, ensuring that even if messages are somehow accessed, the contents remain unreadable to attackers. Secure email gateways add another line of defence, filtering out spam, phishing attempts, and malware before they even reach your inbox. For SMEs, these measures are relatively easy to implement and go a long way towards reducing the risk of email-based attacks.

Not every employee needs access to all of your business information. Limiting access to sensitive data and systems, you reduce the risk of accidental mistakes and make it harder for cybercriminals to do serious damage if an account is compromised. Following the principle of least privilege, where staff only have the access, they need to do their jobs, helps protect valuable data and keeps your systems more secure.

Many small businesses rely on third-party vendors for services such as IT support, payment processing, or cloud storage. But if those providers have weak cyber security, it can put your business at risk too. Always check that the companies you work with follow strong security practices, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about how they protect your data. Holding suppliers to the same standards as your own business helps close off a common backdoor for cybercriminals.

Even with strong defences in place, no business is completely safe from cyber-attacks. Having an incident response plan gives you peace of mind and ensures you don’t have to react in panic if something does go wrong. It sets out who to contact, how to contain the issue, and the steps needed to recover quickly, helping your business get back on track with minimal disruption.

Cyber security is no longer optional for small and local businesses, it’s essential for survival. From phishing emails to ransomware, the risks are real, and the financial and operational consequences can be severe. The good news is that with the right measures in place, like staff training, strong passwords, regular updates, secure networks, and a clear response plan, most of these threats can be prevented or their impact greatly reduced.

If you’re concerned about your cyber security or simply don’t know where to start, we’re here to help. Call us today for expert advice tailored to small and local businesses in Greater Manchester and surrounding areas. A quick conversation could be the first step towards protecting your business from costly attacks and giving you complete peace of mind.

Small businesses often have fewer defences than larger organisations, making them easier targets. Cybercriminals know this and use methods like phishing and ransomware to exploit these gaps.

Phishing remains the most common attack, where criminals send fake emails or messages to trick employees into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.

Not at all. Many effective measures, such as staff training, strong passwords, and regular software updates, are low-cost or even free. The cost of a breach is far higher than prevention.

Ideally, data should be backed up daily. At a minimum, you should set up weekly automated backups and regularly test them to ensure they can be restored if needed.

Cyber-attacks can happen to anyone, and having a plan in place ensures you know who to contact, how to contain the problem, and how to recover quickly. It reduces panic and limits damage.

The best approach is to get a professional cyber security audit. This will highlight vulnerabilities and give you a clear plan to strengthen your defences.