When big names like Jaguar Land Rover and Marks & Spencer make headlines for cyber incidents, it’s a reminder that no organisation can afford to relax its defences. For every large brand caught out, countless smaller businesses face the same threats daily.

As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated, so must your defences. What would you do if your business was under attack? And don’t think it won’t happen. Nearly half of UK businesses have reported a cyber security breach or attack in the last year. That’s four in ten businesses (43%) and three in ten charities (30%) in the UK, according to government statistics. Many will go unreported too.

But strong cybersecurity isn’t about reacting when disaster strikes. It’s about layering protection so that every possible entry point, process and piece of data is covered. Known as “resilience engineering,” it’s about building systems that can anticipate, absorb, recover and adapt to an attack.

From advanced monitoring to simple paper records, each layer strengthens the next. And one of the most powerful layers of all? A reliable, well-planned backup strategy.

Cybersecurity: your steps to take

Cybersecurity isn’t a quick sprint. Think of it as a relay team. Each contributor has a role to play. Together, they protect your systems from start to finish.

We recommend a layered defence strategy, comprising five key elements.

Identify: Know what you’ve got in your IT systems. What’s super important? Assess the risks.

Protect: Limit the impact of cybersecurity events. Start with firewall and/ or anti-virus solutions as a first line of defence. Ensure your people have regular security training.

Detect: Continuously monitor systems to pick up on behaviours and events that may be threats.

Respond: Take relevant actions against the threat that’s made it past earlier layers of defence.

Recover: Have the tools to recover your business, and restore service, after an attack.

Let’s look at those aspects in some more detail.

Prepare and protect

Understand what you hold within your environment. What have you got to lose? Assess the risks to your business and then do your utmost to protect it all. Implement your first line of defence with robust firewalls and antivirus protection.

Did you know that your weakest link is often your people? They can be your strongest asset too, but they need to be informed about security steps to take.

Poor password protection makes an easy entry point to your system. You may have heard about the recent heist on The Louvre. But did you know that one of the most famous museums in the world had an incredibly insecure password to protect its surveillance systems? The Louvre used the word ‘louvre’ as its password!

Make sure your people are aware of secure password protocols, the importance of regular updates and multifactor authentication. Don’t rely on a one-off security session for your team. Ongoing training makes a huge difference.

Detect

Pick up on unusual behaviours or events before they escalate into security threats. There are two excellent solutions for this to give you peace of mind.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) – tools like our Managed EDR service continuously monitor your devices, spotting and stopping suspicious activity before it causes harm.

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) – our Managed ITDR solution defends your people and credentials, catching stolen passwords or privilege misuse early.

Recover

It’s important to think about what you’d do if an attack happened to your business. Richard Horne, Chief Executive of the National Security Centre advises organisations to “have a plan for how they would continue to operate without their IT, (and rebuild that IT at pace), were an attack to get through.”

A backup isn’t a “just in case” measure. It’s an essential part of everyday cyber hygiene. Regular, tested backups mean your business can keep moving, even if a cyberattack or hardware failure hits.

A backup is your final layer of defence and recovery, ensuring your data isn’t lost if disaster strikes. We recommend following the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 copies of your data

• 2 different storage types (like local and cloud)

• 1 stored safely offsite.

It’s a simple, proven approach that ensures your most important information is never just in one place. Relying on a single copy is like putting all your eggs in one digital basket.

Backup to basics

It might surprise you, but traditional paper backups are making a quiet comeback. The BBC reports that some hospitals and councils have reintroduced printed versions of critical documents to ensure continuity during cyber incidents.

It may sound outdated, but paper records can be an extra practical safeguard. Keep paper copies of essential information you’d need during an outage, like emergency contacts, key procedures or access details.

Think of it as your final fallback. Admittedly, it’s low-tech, but it’s immune to ransomware.

Backups and beyond: your cybersecurity must-haves

Cybersecurity isn’t about expecting the worst, it’s about preparing for anything. With a layered approach including backups, password protection, identity and device security, your business can stay confident, connected and in control.

At Mirus, we believe true cybersecurity means prevention, detection and recovery working hand in hand. Their combined efforts form a complete, resilient security posture.

That’s why our services cover every layer:

• Managed EDR keeps your devices secure and monitored 24/7.

• Managed ITDR protects your user identities and credentials.

• Our data protection guidance ensures your backup strategy meets best practice, from Microsoft 365 to offline storage.

• We work with your team to make cybersecurity part of your company culture, not an afterthought.

• And if disaster strikes, we’re here to help your business recover

Need a hand with your security protection and backups? Please get in touch