Don’t leave SMBs exposed: why cybersecurity must scale with innovation
In a digital economy, no business is too small to be a target. Yet when we talk about cybersecurity policy and resilience, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) still don’t get the attention – or support – they need. That has to change.
At a recent roundtable hosted by the Royal United Services Institute, we discussed how the upcoming UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill – announced in the King’s Speech – can be made future-proof to strengthen the UK’s cyber resilience. The goal is to build a cyber framework that’s not just strong today, but ready for tomorrow’s threats.
The discussions ranged from protecting supply chains, to speeding up resilience at scale and the potential trade-offs of regulatory oversight.
One thing is clear: while the Bill moves us toward tougher standards for all businesses, we must think bigger than just enterprise-level impact. SMBs are the backbone of the UK economy – 99% of it, in fact. And many sit inside or adjacent to critical supply chains. Whether directly pulled into new reporting requirements or indirectly impacted by suppliers enforcing stricter standards, SMBs can’t afford to be an afterthought.
This isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes. SMBs need to see cybersecurity as a core business asset. With evolving regulation and rising threats, preparation pays off. That starts with people. Investing in training – particularly in cybersecurity and AI fundamentals – can build confidence, capability, and long-term resilience.
The appetite is there. According to Sage data, over a third of European SMBs want more cybersecurity training, and 42% are seeking education on AI. These businesses are not in denial – they’re asking for the tools to do better. It’s time we go further to support them.
At Sage, we work closely with SMBs and see the pressure they’re under. Regulations help define the floor, but businesses also need access to practical, affordable solutions – like AI-powered threat detection, zero-trust architecture, and smart compliance tools that don’t require an enterprise-sized budget.
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue anymore. It’s a growth issue. It’s a trust issue. And it’s a business imperative.
As SMBs adopt AI and digital tools to stay competitive, they must also be empowered to defend themselves. Because we can’t secure the economy if we leave its core exposed.
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