Cybersecurity Awareness Month: 2025

Cybersecurity

October 21, 2025

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month — a reminder for every organisation to pause and consider how resilient their systems really are. Cyber-attacks are no longer isolated incidents; they’ve become part of everyday business risk. According to the Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, almost half of UK businesses and a third of charities experienced a cyber breach or attack in the past year.

What’s more, the likelihood of being targeted grows with size — around two-thirds of medium-sized businesses and three-quarters of larger organisations reported incidents. Even smaller firms are not exempt, with more than four in ten facing attacks that can cost thousands to recover from.

Phishing remains the most common entry point for attackers, while more complex threats such as ransomware, AI-driven scams and supply chain compromises continue to rise. The message is clear: cybersecurity isn’t just an IT concern — it’s a vital part of business continuity, reputation, and customer trust.

Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month Matters

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is more than just a reminder to update your passwords. It’s an opportunity for every organisation to pause, review and strengthen its defences. This month encourages us all to:

1. Engage staff in good security habits
2. Refresh policies and incident plans
3. Make sure leadership and boards champion cyber resilience
4. Identify and close any gaps before they’re exploited

Four Simple Steps to Stay Secure

While advanced tools and standards play an important role, many attacks can be stopped by following a few consistent best practices. The 2025 campaign focuses on four simple yet powerful actions – the Core 4:

1. Use strong, unique passwords

Encourage staff to use long, unique passwords for every account. A password manager can make this much easier, helping avoid the temptation to reuse weak passwords.

2. Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds an extra layer of security, so even if a password is stolen, an attacker still can’t get in.

3. Be alert to phishing

Phishing emails and texts are more convincing than ever. Regular training helps staff recognise and report suspicious messages before any damage is done.

4. Keep software up to date

Most cyberattacks exploit known vulnerabilities. Regular updates and patching are simple ways to close those doors to attackers.

Small, everyday actions like these create a stronger security culture and can prevent the majority of common cyber incidents.

How ISO 27001 Strengthens Your Security

Good habits are essential, but to build lasting resilience, organisations need a structured and proactive approach. That’s where ISO 27001, the international standard for information security management, comes in.

Implementing ISO 27001 helps you:

1. Manage risk systematically – identify threats, assess vulnerabilities and apply the right controls to protect your critical information assets.
2. Create clear policies and accountability – define responsibilities across your organisation so everyone understands their role in keeping data safe.
3. Meet legal and regulatory requirements – demonstrate compliance with UK data protection laws and other standards.
4. Build trust and credibility – show customers, partners and suppliers that you take information security seriously.
5. Continuously improve – ISO 27001 follows a Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle, ensuring your defences stay effective as new threats emerge.
6. Secure your supply chain – set expectations and manage risks within your network of suppliers and partners.

Achieving ISO 27001 certification may sound like a big step, but with the right planning and guidance, many organisations complete the process within six to eighteen months. The result is stronger resilience, reduced risk, and greater confidence from everyone who relies on your business.

How Critical Path Can Help

At Critical Path, we make ISO 27001 simple and achievable by working alongside your team to design, implement and embed an Information Security Management System that fits your organisation. 

We can help you:

• Carry out a gap analysis to see where you stand
• Develop the policies, procedures and documentation needed for certification
• Conduct internal audits and readiness reviews
• Deliver staff awareness training to build a strong security culture

Whether you’re starting your information security journey or looking to improve an existing system, ISO 27001 offers a proven framework to protect your organisation. Get in touch with our friendly team to find out more.