When cyber security gets personal: Real stories from UK small businesses

TL;DR: What’s this all about?

Cyberattacks aren’t just about systems – they affect people. This blog shares real stories of small businesses hit by cyber threats and the emotional, financial and operational impact behind the headlines. But it’s not all doom and gloom. These businesses bounced back – and yours can too.

Cyber security isn’t just about protecting data. It’s about protecting people.

Because when things go wrong, it’s not just systems that go down – it’s your reputation, your client relationships and the confidence your team has in the business.

We hear a lot about ransomware, phishing and data breaches. But we don’t often hear about the small-business owner losing sleep over lost revenue… or the team in tears when a year’s worth of work disappears. These are the stories that matter. The ones that stick.

This blog brings together real UK stories from the last 12 months – stories of resilience, recovery and lessons learned. Not to scare you, but to remind you that even when the worst happens, you’re not alone – and with the right support, you can bounce back stronger.

Cyberattacks don’t just steal data. They shake confidence.

That’s exactly what happened to one UK small-business owner, who told researchers at RUSI that after a ransomware attack, his turnover dropped from £250,000 to £20,000 overnight.

“You blame yourself,” he said. “I was mortified.”

He isn’t alone. Another small-business leader described feeling completely overwhelmed, while others reported weight loss and anxiety. These aren’t just IT problems. They’re deeply human ones.

The Black Farmer: When someone else’s cyberattack ruins your week

In May 2025, premium food brand The Black Farmer couldn’t deliver meat to supermarkets because their logistics supplier had been hit by ransomware. Founder Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones told BBC’s Wake Up to Money that thousands of pounds’ worth of fresh produce sat in storage, undeliverable.

“If they’re not delivered in the next couple of days… they have to be thrown away. For a small business, it is pretty devastating.” Source

It was a stark reminder that even if you’re not the target, someone else’s breach can hurt your bottom line too.

It’s not always about the ransom. But it still costs you.

Even businesses that don’t pay a ransom face serious costs. One UK firm spent more than £60,000 recovering from a cyberattack – covering forensic IT support, legal advice, customer comms and new infrastructure. Others lost long-standing clients who couldn’t afford to wait through the chaos.

One school even lost access to its cashless payment system – staff paid for student lunches out of pocket until everything was fixed.

Source: Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 – GOV.UK

And then there’s the team

When systems go down, so does morale. In one case, a business had to bring in trauma support for its team after a ransomware attack. At a local school, staff cried as they explained to students that all coursework files were gone. “It was devastating,” they said. “It wasn’t just the systems – it was people’s hard work, wiped out.”

What can you do differently today?

We’re not sharing these stories to scare you. We’re sharing them so you don’t become one. Because when small businesses are supported – with good IT, cyber-security training and clear guidance – they bounce back faster. Some even come back stronger.

Five things you can do now

• ✅ Get the basics covered: firewalls, antivirus, multi-factor authentication and regular updates. Our unlimited IT support takes care of the lot.
• ✅ Train your team: most attacks start with one click. Our cyber-security awareness training helps people spot risks before they spread.
• ✅ Protect Microsoft 365 properly: it isn’t automatically backed up. Our Microsoft 365 backups mean you never lose vital emails, files or chats.
• ✅ Think beyond your office: cyber risk doesn’t stop at your walls. If you rely on suppliers or remote workers, we’ll help you spot the blind spots.
• ✅ Check how cyber-resilient you are: try our FREE cyber scorecard and get a tailored report on where you’re secure – and where you’re exposed.

It’s not just about IT. It’s about peace of mind.

The real story of a cyberattack isn’t the headline – it’s what happens after. The people trying to keep the business going. The late-night calls to clients. The teams working overtime to fix what was broken.

At Cloud & More, we support the people behind the business. We don’t just fix problems – we help stop them before they start. We take time to understand your setup, your team and what really matters. Because cyber security should feel like someone’s got your back. And we do.

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