By Harry Thomas, Marketing Co-ordinator
This year we’ve seen three of the UK’s most recognisable retailers, Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods, hit by major cyber-attacks, causing widespread disruption, data breaches, and financial losses estimated in the hundreds of millions. These incidents exploited weaknesses in IT help desks and internal systems, highlighting just how vulnerable even the biggest brands can be.
For businesses of all sizes, these attacks are a wake-up call. At Simoda, we help organisations across the UK build smarter, more secure IT environments. Here are five essential IT tips to help protect your business in today’s threat landscape.
Cyber Security First – Not as an Afterthought
The recent attacks show that cyber security must be embedded into every part of your business, not just your IT department. From phishing emails to ransomware, threats are evolving fast.
Simoda’s cyber security services are designed to provide comprehensive protection. We offer advanced threat detection and response capabilities, robust endpoint protection, and detailed security audits to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. We also help businesses meet compliance requirements and deliver employee awareness training to ensure your team is equipped to recognise and respond to threats.
Empower Your People – They’re Your First Line of Defence
The group behind the attacks reportedly used social engineering tactics to trick staff into giving up access credentials. This highlights the importance of equipping your team with the knowledge and tools to defend against cyber threats.
Simoda’s modern workplace solutions include secure collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams, identity protection through multi-factor authentication, and comprehensive cyber awareness training. We help your people work efficiently and securely, whether they’re in the office or working remotely.
Prioritise Cyber Security – Every Day
Cyber threats are more sophisticated and frequent than ever. From ransomware to phishing attacks, businesses of all sizes are at risk. A reactive approach is no longer enough.
Simoda’s cloud and infrastructure team helps businesses design secure cloud environments from the ground up. We monitor for threats, manage identity and access controls, and ensure your cloud infrastructure is both scalable and secure. Our goal is to help you take full advantage of the cloud without compromising on safety.
Prepare for the Worst – With a Response Plan
M&S and Co-op were forced to shut down systems and suspend services. The lesson? Every business needs a cyber incident response plan.
Simoda works with organisations to develop and test response playbooks tailored to their operations. We implement robust backup and disaster recovery solutions that ensure your data is protected and your business can continue operating even in the face of a cyber event. Our approach to business continuity planning helps you minimise downtime and recover quickly, reducing the impact of any potential breach.
Back Up Data Frequently – Don’t Leave It to Chance
Data loss can be catastrophic for an organisation and are not only possible through cyber-attacks but can also happen due to hardware failure or human error. Regular backups are your safety net.
Simoda helps businesses implement automated, encrypted backup solutions that run on reliable schedules and store data securely on-premises, in the cloud, or both. We ensure your backups are tested and restorable, so you’re never caught off guard. Frequent backups mean faster recovery and less disruption when the unexpected happens.
Let’s Solve Problems Together
We don’t just sell IT, we solve problems. Our team is here to help you make smarter technology decisions.
Visit simoda.co.uk or get in touch on 0114 553 3600 to find out how we can support your business.
