Data Breach Costs Rise Amid Growing Data Volume

Data is your most valuable asset—but also your biggest risk. Data breaches remain a significant threat, with costs averaging nearly $5M in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. With the volume of data expected to reach 181 zettabytes by the end of 2025, this risk continues to grow. Businesses face a major dilemma: How do you maximize the value of your data while safeguarding it from breaches? Our latest eBook, "Welcome to the Jungle: Navigating the Two Sides of Data," explores the challenges of safeguarding your data, and offers best practices to overcome these obstacles. Ready to take control of your data? Download your free copy today! Download the eBook Now https://okt.to/CHZNxh #Symantec #CyberSecurity #DataProtection #ZeroTrust

Data is your most valuable asset—but also your biggest risk. Data breaches remain a significant threat, with costs averaging nearly $5M in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. With the volume of data expected to reach 181 zettabytes by the end of 2025, this risk continues to grow. Businesses face a major dilemma: How do you maximize the value of your data while safeguarding it from breaches? Our latest eBook, "Welcome to the Jungle: Navigating the Two Sides of Data," explores the challenges of safeguarding your data, and offers best practices to overcome these obstacles. Ready to take control of your data? Download your free copy today! Download the eBook Now https://okt.to/R7gUzG #Symantec #CyberSecurity #DataProtection #ZeroTrust

Data is your most valuable asset—but also your biggest risk. Data breaches remain a significant threat, with costs averaging nearly $5M in 2024, marking a 10% increase from the previous year. With the volume of data expected to reach 181 zettabytes by the end of 2025, this risk continues to grow. Businesses face a major dilemma: How do you maximize the value of your data while safeguarding it from breaches? Our latest eBook, "Welcome to the Jungle: Navigating the Two Sides of Data," explores the challenges of safeguarding your data, and offers best practices to overcome these obstacles. Ready to take control of your data? Download your free copy today! Download the eBook Now https://okt.to/jo4G38 #Symantec #CyberSecurity #DataProtection #ZeroTrust

🔐 3 quick security checks every small business should do today: Most of the issues we see aren’t complex—they’re just overlooked. If you run a business, take 2 minutes to check this: 1️⃣ Do you have a working backup? If your files disappeared tomorrow, could you recover them quickly? 2️⃣ Are your passwords unique? Using the same password across accounts is one of the biggest risks. 3️⃣ Is 2-factor authentication turned on? Especially for email—this alone stops a huge number of attacks. That’s it. Nothing complicated—but these 3 things prevent a lot of problems. Most businesses we speak to are missing at least one of these. If you’re not sure where you stand, we're always happy to take a quick look and point out any gaps 👍 #CyberSecurity #SmallBusinessUK #ITSupport #WirralBusiness

There is a common misconception among decision-makers that having a backup is the same as having a recovery plan. A backup is merely a copy of data; recovery is the process of getting your business back to work. Without a tested plan, you may find that while your data exists, the time required to restore it is more than your business can afford to lose. Effective BDR focuses on two metrics: how much data you can afford to lose (RPO) and how quickly you need to be back online (RTO). Understanding these is the first step toward true operational security. Read more about why a proactive approach to data protection is a foundational business requirement. https://lnkd.in/gb5jwkfq #Cybersecurity #SMB #DataProtection

Cyber Essentials has now changed. From 27 April 2026, updated requirements are in place across the UK, and many organisations are only just starting to feel the impact. While the framework itself has not changed, the expectations around how systems are secured are now clearer and more defined. That means less room for interpretation, and more focus on getting the fundamentals right. For businesses coming up to renewal, this is where issues can start to appear. It is not about starting from scratch. It is about making sure what you already have in place is properly aligned with the updated requirements. At Concept IT, we are already supporting organisations across Durham, Newcastle, and the North East through these changes, helping them prepare, avoid delays, and pass with confidence. If Cyber Essentials is part of your requirements, now is the time to review where you stand. We have broken down what has changed and what it means for your business in our latest blog. 👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eGPEJ8Ki #CyberEssentials #CyberSecurity #Compliance #ConceptIT #NorthEastBusiness

Happy World Password Day! 🔐 — May 7th, 2026 Today is a great reminder that your first line of defense against a cyberattack is often the simplest one: your password. For financial advisors, weak or reused passwords aren't just a personal risk — they're a compliance risk. Here are a few quick wins to mark the day: 🔑 Use long, unique passwords for every account 🔑 Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) everywhere you can 🔑 Use a password manager — stop relying on memory (or sticky notes!) 🔑 Audit your team's password practices today At WHT: 4 Advisors, password security is just one piece of the cybersecurity foundation we help advisors build. Want to make sure your practice is protected? 🌐 https://hubs.la/Q04d-HV10 #WorldPasswordDay #WeHandleTech4Advisors #WeHandleTech #Cybersecurity #FinancialAdvisors

Get Cyber Essentials ready in a day: an actionable checklist for SMEs and sole traders. Start with the basics: create or confirm your Acceptable Use and Password policies, enable MFA for all accounts, apply automatic updates, and ensure endpoint protection is active. Check firewall settings and restrict admin rights to named users only. Document software inventories and patch schedules. Where assessors help: evidence sampling, configuration screenshots, and clear policy sign-off speed approval. Benefits are immediate — fewer hurdles for UK government tenders and clear proof of cyber hygiene for clients and partners. Need confidence? Get Cyber Certified has a proven track record and a 100% pass rate to back you up. Ready to get started? Visit https://wix.to/TJSUNZU #CyberEssentials #UKBusiness #CyberSecurity

A simple cyber resilience checklist for small businesses: 1. Know your most important systems Which tools do you rely on every day to run the business? 2. Check your backups Are they working, protected, and easy to restore from? 3. Know who has access Do staff only have access to what they need? 4. Protect your email accounts Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. 5. Write down your first steps If something goes wrong, who do you call and what do you check first? 6. Keep key contact details somewhere safe Include IT support, software providers, bank contacts, insurers, and key suppliers. 7. Practise the basics A plan is much more useful when people know it exists. Being resilient does not have to start with a big project. It can start with a clear list, a calm conversation, and a few practical improvements. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/esiNEknG and ask us how we can help your business to be more resilient. #BusinessResilience #UKSmallBusiness #SmallBusiness #CyberResilience #CyberSecurity #DigitalSecurity #PracticalCyberSecurity #SmallBusinessSupport #Pracsys #PracsysSec

Resilience matters for any business, no matter the size. That is especially true when your business becomes a victim of cyber crime. But how much is enough? Small steps can already make all the difference. Small businesses and growing teams don’t need expensive tools or complicated solution, but confidence. Simple measures and a solid plan. Here’s a handy checklist to get you started! #cyberResilience #BusinessResilience