The Small Business Cyber Security Guy | UK Cybersecurity for SMB & Startups

When Your Safety Net Becomes the Target

🚨 Episode 11: When Your Safety Net Becomes the Target

Backup Security Under Fire + Business Email Compromise Reality Check

Your backups aren't protecting you anymore—they're the primary target. In this explosive double-header episode, we expose why 94% of ransomware attacks now target backup systems first, and how Business Email Compromise enables these devastating attacks.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

  • Backup Reality Check: Why "immutable" storage isn't, and cloud sync ≠ backup protection
  • Cloud Provider Truth Bomb: Neither Microsoft nor Google guarantee your data integrity
  • BEC Epidemic: How £35+ billion in global losses connect to backup destruction
  • Modern Attack Chains: Email compromise → reconnaissance → backup annihilation
  • What Actually Works: Third-party solutions, testing reality, budget truths
💡 Key Takeaways:
  • Only 27% of businesses successfully recover all data after incidents
  • 30-40% of cyber insurance claims denied due to backup inadequacies
  • Proper backup solutions cost £20-100/month, not £500+
  • Process controls beat technical controls for BEC prevention
  • Multi-channel verification saves businesses millions
🎙️ Hosts & Guests:
  • Noel Bradford - The Small Business Cyber Security Guy
  • Mauven MacLeod - Ex-NCSC Cyber Expert
  • Oliver Sterling - Veteran IT & Cyber Specialist
  • Lucy Harper & Graham Falkner - Announcing The 10-Minute Cyber Fix daily show!
📺 NEW: The 10-Minute Cyber Fix

Starting Monday! Daily cybersecurity news analysis with Lucy Harper. Perfect for commute listening—cutting through vendor panic and media hyperbole to deliver what actually matters for YOUR business.

🔗 Essential Resources:

  • Veeam Ransomware Trends Report 2024 - 94% backup targeting statistics
  • FBI IC3 BEC Report 2023 - £35+ billion global losses
  • Microsoft Online Services Terms - "Commercially reasonable efforts" reality
  • NCSC BEC Guidance - UK government protection advice
  • Action Fraud BEC Statistics - UK-specific loss data
  • Cyber Essentials Scheme - UK government backup guidance
  • Google Cloud Terms of Service - Data responsibility clauses
💰 Vendor Solutions Mentioned:

Third-Party Backup: Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365, Druva, Barracuda, Dropsuite, SkyKick

Key Point: Your cloud provider's backup ISN'T enough—you need independent protection.

⚠️ Critical Actions:

  1. Implement multi-channel verification for all financial requests
  2. Test backup restoration regularly, not just backup completion
  3. Deploy third-party backup for cloud services
  4. Document procedures that work under pressure
  5. Train staff on BEC recognition and response
🎯 Next Week Preview:

Advanced Persistent Threats targeting SMBs - How nation-state techniques filter down to everyday criminals. Special guest from UK's Cyber Security Agency.

📱 Connect With Us:

💼 LinkedIn: Mauven's getting job offers—someone's listening!
📧 Consulting: Real-world security help for small businesses
🎧 Daily Fix: Subscribe for Monday's launch of The 10-Minute Cyber Fix

⚖️ Disclaimer: Educational content only. Consult qualified professionals for business-specific advice. Not affiliated with any government agency or vendor.

🔥 If this episode saved you from a backup disaster or BEC scam, hit subscribe and share with fellow business owners who still think "it's in the cloud" means "it's safe"!