The National Cyber Security Centre’s message is clear: cyber criminals do not discriminate by size or sector.
For many organisations, this remains an uncomfortable reality. There is still a persistent belief that attackers focus exclusively on large enterprises — global brands with vast data sets and high public profiles.
In practice, we see something very different.
The “too small” misconception
At Forensic Control, we regularly support organisations that assumed they were not a target. SMEs. Professional services firms. Specialist operators in niche markets.
The common theme is not sector or turnover.
It is exposure.
Attackers do not require a high-profile brand. They require a weakness — an unpatched system, weak authentication controls, misconfigured cloud services, or insufficient staff awareness.
They only need one gap.
Cyber risk Is an operational risk
Cyber threats are no longer theoretical or future-facing concerns. They sit firmly within today’s operating environment.
A successful attack can lead to:
Operational disruption
Loss of sensitive data
Regulatory consequences
Reputational damage
Financial loss
This is not simply an IT issue. It is a business resilience issue.
The question is no longer if threats exist.
The question is whether your organisation is positioned to withstand them.
Cyber Essentials: The first step In closing the gap
For many organisations, Cyber Essentials is the practical starting point.
As a government-backed scheme, it provides a structured framework focused on five key technical controls. More importantly, it establishes a baseline — reducing exposure to the most common and preventable attack methods.
Cyber Essentials is not the end state. It is the foundation.
At Forensic Control, we use it as the first step in closing critical security gaps. From there, we support organisations in:
Identifying vulnerabilities through structured assessment
Strengthening defensive controls
Enhancing detection and response capability
Embedding governance and accountability
Building long-term operational resilience
Security maturity is achieved incrementally — but it begins with clarity.
Control Is deliberate
Cyber resilience does not happen by accident. It is the result of deliberate decisions, structured controls, and informed leadership.
Organisations that take early, proactive steps are significantly better positioned than those that wait for an incident to force change.
If you are unsure where your business stands, that uncertainty itself is a risk.
Know your exposure.
Close the gaps.
Stay in control.
Contact Forensic Control for a confidential discussion about strengthening your organisation’s cyber resilience with Cyber Essentials.
