You’ve likely seen the headlines: M&S, Co-op, and Harrods; three of the UK’s most iconic retailers have all recently suffered major cyberattacks. The Guardian reports that M&S alone expects the cyber-attack to last into July and cost £300m in lost profits.
What’s especially alarming is that these attacks didn’t result from advanced hacking tools or sophisticated malware. Instead, they were social engineering attacks, specifically targeting IT staff, the very individuals tasked with defending organisations against such threats.
What is cyber security and why is it important?
Cyber security refers to the convergence of people, processes and technology that combine to protect organisations, individuals or networks from cyberattacks.
Every organisation has a legal and ethical responsibility to safeguard both personal data (like employee or client information) and business-critical systems (such as payroll, planning, and financial data). Under GDPR, failing to protect this data can result in severe penalties.
Cybersecurity Is everyone’s responsibility
The recent breaches highlight a truth too many organisations ignore: Cybersecurity isn’t just IT’s job; it’s everyone’s responsibility.
Here are the critical lessons all businesses need to learn:
- Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue. It’s a board-level concern and a key pillar of business resilience.
- Human error remains the #1 cause of data breaches globally. One click on a phishing link or a misplaced password can unravel even the strongest defences.
- Cyber resilience depends on your whole team. Every employee plays a role in preventing cyber incidents.
Technology alone isn’t enough to stop cyber attacks
No matter how advanced your cybersecurity software is, it can’t prevent an employee from mistakenly giving up login details to a convincing scammer. That’s why the concept of a “human firewall” is so important.
Every day, staff interact with emails, websites, and messages that could be traps. Without proper cyber security training, they’re vulnerable and so is your business.
The solution? Regular, relevant, and practical cyber security training that helps employees recognise threats and respond appropriately.
Training that sticks: Me Learning’s approach to cyber resilience
At Me Learning, we’ve seen firsthand how proper training empowers organisations to reduce their risk exposure dramatically. That’s why we developed our Information and Cyber Security course in alignment with GDPR requirements and science-backed learning methods.
In just 30 minutes, this course equips employees to:
- Spot and address common data security threats
- Implement simple but effective physical security controls
- Report security incidents swiftly and correctly
- Adopt responsible data handling behaviours
- Foster a culture of security awareness and accountability
And it doesn’t stop there, because the course is regularly updated, your team stays current with the latest threat tactics and prevention strategies.
All our courses can be hosted on our Learning Management System, Form or as a SCORM file on your own LMS.
Explore our cyber security training!
Can Your Organisation Afford the Cost of Complacency?
The attacks on M&S, Co-op, and Harrods were not isolated. They’re part of a growing wave of breaches exploiting human weaknesses. Analysts suggest the cumulative damage from these events could exceed hundreds of millions, not to mention long-term damage to customer trust and brand reputation.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most companies are just as vulnerable.
What sets resilient organisations apart isn’t just technology, it’s cyber security training that empowers staff to detect and prevent attacks before they escalate.
Speak to our learning expert to find out how we can help your organisation: keyanodonnell@melearning.co.uk | 01273 091 301
