The Real Cost of a Cyber Attack – And Why Prevention Is Cheaper Than Recovery
Many small and medium-sized businesses believe cyber attacks only happen to big corporations. Unfortunately, the reality is far different — and far more expensive than most realise.
A single cyber attack can do serious financial, legal, and reputational damage, often leading to weeks (or months) of downtime and disruption.
At Beyond, we help businesses understand one simple truth: Investing in prevention is always cheaper than paying for recovery.
What Does a Cyber Attack Actually Cost?
According to recent UK government data, the average cost of a cyber attack for an SMB is £15,300 — and that’s just the immediate hit. The real price can be much higher once you account for:
Ransom payments
Emergency IT support and recovery
Lost productivity and business interruption
Reputation damage and lost customers
Regulatory fines (especially if personal data is involved)
Legal costs and compliance fallout
And here’s the kicker — most of these attacks could have been prevented with basic cyber hygiene and best practices, like those outlined in the Cyber Essentials framework.
Real-World SMB Attack Scenarios
Phishing email compromises Microsoft 365 account
Data exfiltrated, clients contacted by attacker, reputational damage done.Ransomware hits a shared server
Entire system locked down, weeks of downtime, ransom demanded in crypto.Outdated remote desktop system exploited
Backdoor opened, sensitive data stolen, ICO investigation follows.
Even if you're insured, many policies now require Cyber Essentials or equivalent safeguards — or your claim may be denied.
The Psychology of "It Won’t Happen to Us"
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking:
"We’re too small to be a target."
"We already have antivirus."
"It hasn’t happened before."
The truth? SMB’s are targeted precisely because they often lack strong defences.
Attackers automate their scans — looking for exposed systems, outdated software, and weak user controls. If your business shows up on that radar, you’re fair game.
Why Prevention is Smarter — and More Affordable
Here’s what proactive cybersecurity looks like on average:
| Prevention | Cost | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber Essentials Certification | £300–£500 | Peace of mind, compliance, insurer recognition |
| MFA on all accounts | Free–£5/user | Stops 99% of credential-based attacks |
| EDR (advanced threat detection) | £2–£5/device/month | Stops ransomware before it spreads |
| Staff training & awareness | Included in most MSP plans | Reduces phishing risk significantly |
Compare that to thousands in recovery costs and downtime — and the choice is clear.
Cyber Essentials: The Best Place to Start
If you’re looking for a clear, affordable way to improve your cyber defences, Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed certification built for businesses just like yours.
It helps you:
Identify gaps in your IT setup
Implement proven security controls
Show clients, suppliers, and insurers you take security seriously
At Beyond, we help you prepare, apply for, and pass Cyber Essentials — guiding you every step of the way.
Our Recommendation
Don’t wait for a cyber incident to make security a priority.
Talk to us about how we can:
Assess your current risks
Deploy cost-effective security solutions
Guide you through Cyber Essentials certification
Protect your business, your data, and your reputation
Prevention isn’t just smarter — it’s cheaper, faster, and far less stressful.
Reach out today to find out how secure (or exposed) your business really is.