Key Takeaway
The UK faces constant cyber-attacks as industries increasingly rely on connected devices and IoT infrastructure, expanding vulnerabilities. Critical sectors like energy, healthcare, and manufacturing depend on these devices, which often exist outside traditional IT perimeters, creating security blind spots. Securing the entire network, rather than individual devices, is essential. The government emphasizes the need for board-level focus on cyber resilience as a strategic imperative. Evolving IoT security from piecemeal protection to built-in resilience is crucial. Ransomware has transformed into a professional ecosystem, exploiting various vulnerabilities, highlighting the importance of robust security measures across the connected economy.
“It’s no surprise that the UK faces near-constant cyber-attacks,” Toby states. “As industries digitize, their most essential functions increasingly rely on connected devices and IoT infrastructure.
“This growing dependence broadens the threat landscape and necessitates a heightened level of vigilance, along with an acknowledgment of the vulnerabilities that can no longer be overlooked.
“From energy and healthcare to retail and manufacturing, connected devices now underpin daily operations. They manage heating and power, monitor patients, and optimize production lines. Yet many remain outside traditional IT perimeters, creating blind spots where attackers can operate undetected.
“With thousands or even millions of endpoints across supply chains, the challenge lies not in securing a single device but in protecting the entire network that links them. The government is correct to advocate for board-level attention—cyber resilience has become a strategic necessity.
“Our approach to IoT security must shift from fragmented protection to integrated resilience. Secure-by-design connectivity, bolstered by robust authentication, anomaly detection, and continuous visibility, ensures that every device on a network is identifiable and safeguarded against compromise.
“This is the only sustainable method to protect the UK’s connected economy from the large-scale disruptions that the NCSC is warning about.”
Pierre Noel, Field CISO EMEA at Expel, adds: “Ransomware has swiftly transformed from opportunistic encryption attacks into highly professional ecosystems. Currently, ransomware groups function like SaaS businesses, complete with subscription tiers, dashboards, and user support. They exploit vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, or misconfigured appliances.
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