Cyber criminals are ramping up surveillance of UK businesses, with BT network data showing that online devices are now scanned more than 4,000 times a day to identify potential security gaps.
The number of malicious reconnaissance attacks — often driven by automated bots seeking vulnerabilities — has risen 300% over the past year, as hackers increasingly target web-connected devices, from company laptops and mobile phones to IoT equipment like security cameras.
Once weaknesses are found, attackers can launch ransomware or data theft campaigns capable of crippling entire organisations. The findings highlight the growing cyber risk facing UK firms and the urgent need for proactive digital defences.
BT’s new data shows that professional services such as accountancy, legal and consultancy firms are the most targeted sector for ransomware attacks, followed by retail businesses. The hospitality and leisure sector is the third-largest victim in the last year, as criminals look to exploit valuable guest data and payment details. Ransomware hits smaller businesses the hardest, with firms employing fewer than 25 staff the most targeted group for attacks1.
To help businesses stay ahead of evolving cyber risks, BT has partnered with global cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike to launch BT Business Antivirus Detect and Respond. Powered by CrowdStrike Falcon® Go, the service leverages CrowdStrike’s industry-leading, AI-native technology to proactively stop threats before they become breaches. Available exclusively in the UK with BT, it extends the same AI-powered cybersecurity trusted by the world’s largest enterprises to smaller businesses, helping every organisation defend against today’s adversaries.
The launch comes as CrowdStrike’s State of SMB Cybersecurity Survey reveals only 11% of small businesses use AI in their defences – even as cybercriminals increasingly weaponise AI to scale their attacks. In March, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre said “keeping pace with frontier AI capabilities” would be key to being resilient against threats in the next decade.
Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer at BT Business, said: “Cybercrime is a threat to all businesses, not just the household names that make headlines when they get hacked. Although small businesses often don’t consider themselves prime targets, they’re under attack like never before, as cybercriminals increasingly use AI to scan for and exploit vulnerabilities. We’re committed to delivering leading technologies that secure organisations of all sizes enabling them to focus on growing their business.”
Daniel Bernard, Chief Business Officer at CrowdStrike said: “Adversaries are weaponising AI to launch faster, more targeted attacks – and BT’s data shows the scale of that threat is only accelerating. At CrowdStrike, we’ve harnessed AI to stop breaches before they happen. Together with BT, we’re bringing that same AI-powered protection and expertise to UK small and medium-sized businesses, giving them the power to stay ahead of even the most sophisticated adversaries.”
The launch represents a further expansion of BT’s range of cybersecurity resources for UK businesses, following the launch of its cloud-based threat protection solution Complete Cloud Secure and Security Awareness Training, designed to help companies build up their cyber strength. Small business owners can also visit BT’s Cyber Security Decoded website, which features simple guides and expert tips on how to protect people, services and data from cyber threats.