Knights of Old, M&S, Jaguar Land Rover & Now Jeremy Clarkson:

 

Why Every Small Business Must Have Cyber Essentials
Cyberattacks don’t just happen to the giants. In recent years we’ve seen:

  • Knights of Old (logistics firm) collapse following a cyberattack.

  • M&S customers face data exposure.

  • Jaguar Land Rover caught in ransomware disruption.

  • Jeremy Clarkson’s own Diddly Squat Farm business targeted by fraudsters.

If companies with multi-million-pound budgets are falling victim, small businesses are at even greater risk. In fact, SMBs are now the number one target for cybercriminals—because attackers know most don’t have the basics in place.

The Harsh Truth for Small Businesses

Many small business owners still believe:

  • “We’re too small to be a target.”

  • “Hackers only want the big fish.”

  • “IT security is too expensive.”

But the statistics say otherwise: the majority of cyberattacks now hit SMEs. Why? Because they’re often the easiest way into a bigger supply chain. And once you’ve been breached, the costs can be crippling—lost business, fines, downtime, reputational damage, and sometimes total closure.

Why Cyber Essentials Is a Must, Not a Maybe

Think of Cyber Essentials like car insurance: you wouldn’t drive without it, so why run a business without it?

Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed scheme that ensures your business has the basic protections in place to stop the majority of cyberattacks. It covers:

  • Firewalls and secure internet connections

  • Strong password policies and multi-factor authentication

  • Software updates and patching

  • Malware protection

  • Access controls

With Cyber Essentials, you’re no longer “low-hanging fruit” for criminals.

The Benefits Go Beyond Security

  • Stops up to 80% of common cyberattacks

  • Demonstrates trust to clients and suppliers

  • Unlocks opportunities—many supply chains, tenders, and contracts require Cyber Essentials as a minimum

  • Protects your revenue and reputation by keeping you secure

  • FREE* Cyber Insurance

Put simply: if you don’t have Cyber Essentials, you’re putting your business, your customers, and your future at risk.

How Sysflex IT Can Help

At Sysflex IT, we’re Cyber Essentials certified and we’ve helped countless SMEs in Swindon and Wiltshire achieve certification quickly and with minimal fuss.

We make the process simple, explain everything in plain English, and ensure you’re not just certified but genuinely secure.

Because in today’s world, Cyber Essentials isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Don’t wait until your business is in the headlines for the wrong reasons.