Hacking has been a risk for small business for a couple of decades, but the threat has increased over time.

The rise of artificial intelligence has made cyberattacks much easier, more frequent and lowered the technical knowledge required, so the risk to founders and firms has jumped in the past couple of years.

Amid the global breakdown in cyber security with the PHP vulnerability emerging , it’s more important than ever that SME owners are able to ensure their company - and their clients’ details - remain safe and secure.

There are many ways in which hacking can damage a business, from stealing customer data to outright theft of money from company bank accounts.

High profile examples of recent hacks include the Jaguar Land Rover attack in August 2025 , a hack of Marks & Spencer’s systems in April that same year and a customer data breach of Manchester Airports Group earlier in 2026.

To combat these risks, cybersecurity expert Conor O’Neill, co-founder and CEO OnSecurity, has provided small business…