But at its core, cyber security is simply about protecting the technology, data, and systems that keep businesses running smoothly. It’s not just about fancy software or high-tech firewalls – it’s also about people, processes, and everyday habits that help prevent attacks.

Now, when we think of a cyber attack, the image that often comes to mind is of a shadowy hacker, breaking through layers of defences to steal sensitive information. While those Hollywood-style breaches do happen, most cyber attacks are far less dramatic. In fact, they often rely on something as simple as human error.

A password scribbled on a sticky note, a careless click on a dodgy email link – these small mistakes can cause more damage than the most sophisticated hacker ever could, regardless of how much effort has been put into cyber technology and infrastructure!

In large organisations or regulated industries, cyber security is a top priority. Every detail is scrutinised because the stakes are high – think about the NHS, where health records need airtight protection, or financial institutions where a breach could ripple through the entire economy. These organisations often have dedicated cyber security teams managing everything from password policies for staff to complex network structures designed to minimise risk. They also rely on formal standards like ISO 27001 to prove their security practices meet strict regulatory requirements.

But for startups, it’s a different story. When you’re still searching for product-market fit or focused on scaling quickly, cyber security can’t take over your entire agenda. That doesn’t mean it’s not important – it just means you need a balanced, agile approach.

The key is to get the basics right early on, then gradually build more sophisticated protections as your data, business impact, and exposure to risks increase. It’s the same mindset you’d apply to product development, hiring, or scaling operations – start lean, adapt as you go, and make sure your security evolves alongside your business.

There is no justification to invest scarce resources in ISO-27001 before you have a product-market fit and a scalable business! However, there are simple, effective steps every business – and every founder, employee, or stakeholder – can take to stay secure without overloading limited resources.

As I’ve already mentioned, most infrastructure breaches happen because of poor password management or weak authentication methods. That’s why strong passwords and secure authentication methods (like private keys) are critical – not just for individual accounts, but for your infrastructure too.

It’s equally important that your tech team stores these credentials securely. For example, passwords should never be hardcoded into your software. Instead, they should be injected at runtime, keeping them hidden from prying eyes. By covering these basics, you’ll significantly reduce the risk of infrastructure-related breaches.

Let’s talk about quantum computing for a moment. While it’s not something most businesses need to worry about right now, it’s worth mentioning because it could change the future of cyber security.

The encryption methods we rely on today – like those that protect your bank transactions or sensitive business data – aren’t technically unbreakable. They’re just incredibly hard to crack. These systems are built on complex mathematical problems that would take even the most powerful traditional computers hundreds or even thousands of years to solve through brute force. In other words, they’re practically unbreakable.

That can change in the future with the advent of quantum computing. Quantum computers are designed to solve these complex mathematical problems much faster than traditional computers ever could. Take RSA encryption, for example – it’s based on the difficulty of factoring large prime numbers. While it’s easy to figure out that 21 equals 3 times 7, doing the same for a number with over 100 digits would take conventional computers an eternity. A quantum computer, in theory, could solve that in seconds. That would be a major problem for current encryption systems.

For now, quantum computing is more of a “future problem.” But it’s on the radar of security experts, and new encryption methods – often called post-quantum cryptography – are already being developed to stay ahead of the curve.

Let’s wrap up with a quick word on ransomware. This is a type of malicious software that locks you out of your own data, demanding a ransom to regain access. It’s a growing threat, and the impact can be devastating for businesses of any size.

The best defence against ransomware? Always have up-to-date backups of your data. That way, even if an attack happens, you’re not at the mercy of the attackers – you can simply restore your data from a secure backup.