June highlighted a clear shift in the cyber threat landscape, and for many businesses in South Yorkshire like yours, the risks are getting harder to ignore…
Over the last month, we saw a sharp rise in employees using unapproved AI tools at work, ransomware attacks going up by almost 10%, and the government urging businesses in South Yorkshire and the UK to improve their cyber resilience. Individually, these news pieces might seem unrelated, but altogether, they point to a broader trend in the UK cyberthreat landscape. That is, risks are becoming more complex, more frequent and often driven by everyday behaviours inside businesses.
Whether you’re a construction firm in Chesterfield or work in healthcare in Doncaster, keeping up with the latest IT news ensures your business remains protected — not the next cautionary tale.
In this update, we’ll break down the key developments in June and what they mean for you and your business in South Yorkshire.
Over half of employees use unapproved AI tools at work
In a recent study, KnowBe4 found that more than half of UK employees admit to using unapproved AI tools at work, with as many as one in ten knowingly sharing sensitive internal information with said tools.
This phenomenon is called Shadow AI. Shadow AI refers to the unauthorised use of AI tools, such as large language models (LLMs) or browser plug-ins, that are not approved by their employer.
The issue with this is that it is entirely unmonitorable by an employer, so corporate security teams have no way to see how models process and store data. This means that any data can be fed, and no one can find out.
What this means in practice:
- Sensitive client data may be shared externally without safeguarding
- Existing security controls can be bypassed entirely
- There is no visibility over how information is used
This means that businesses like yours should:
- Establish clear policies around AI usage
- Monitor access to unapproved tools
- Educate staff on the risks of data sharing with AI
As companies continue to adopt AI into their day-to-day operations, it’s quickly becoming a core part of maintaining a secure and controlled IT environment.
Businesses urged to strengthen their cyber defences
In June, the UK government intensified its push for stronger business cybersecurity, with major organisations including ITV, Nationwide, and Microsoft UK signing a new Cyber Resilience Pledge. This is a voluntary pledge designed for organisations of all sizes and sectors and signals a broader shift in expectations across the UK economy. With cyberattacks costing the UK £14.7 billion a year, this initiative calls on businesses to make cybersecurity a board-level responsibility.
The government also highlighted how AI is changing the cyber threat landscape. Although it can strengthen defence capabilities, it also allows attackers to identify vulnerabilities and potentially disrupt operations
What this means in practice:
- It means that cybersecurity is becoming a requirement
- Responsibility for cyber risk is moving beyond IT and into leadership operations
What this means for businesses like yours:
- It means you must have the right cybersecurity support in place.
- You must regularly review and test security measures
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Through managed IT support and dedicated cybersecurity services, businesses can take a proactive, structured approach. As expectations continue to rise, having this level of support is not only an added benefit but imperative for your business’s success.
Ransomware continues to impact UK businesses – especially SMEs
UK organisations are being warned that ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with criminal groups collaborating and combining specialist capabilities to build new attack pipelines.
This new service, RaaS (labelled ransomware-as-a-service), is being carried out by cybercriminal groups Vect and Team PCP in a widespread campaign involving supply chain attacks, credential theft, data theft, and ransomware deployment techniques.
What does this mean for businesses like yours?
This means that ransomware is no longer a concern for large organisations. SMEs in Sheffield and South Yorkshire are becoming targets due to limited internal security resources, alongside fewer layers of protection in place.
Stay ahead of evolving cyber risks
June’s cybersecurity developments highlight a clear message that threats facing businesses are evolving, and your cybersecurity must evolve in response. The most damaging incidents continue to come from preventable gaps in security, visibility, and preparation.
For organisations in South Yorkshire, having reliable IT support is no longer about resolving technical issues when they occur; it’s about maintaining secure systems, reducing risk and ensuring your technology continues to support business growth.
Want to find out how to stay secure, productive, and prepared for challenges like these? Reach out to our team and we can help.
