Quick Answer
Essential cyber security services for UK businesses in 2026 include endpoint protection (£3–£8/device/month), email security (£2–£5/user/month), managed SOC/SIEM (£10–£30/user/month), penetration testing (£3,000–£15,000/year) and security awareness training (£1–£3/user/month).
A comprehensive cyber security package for a 30-person business typically costs £800–£2,000/month. Connection Technologies bundles security into managed IT packages, providing endpoint, email, backup and monitoring from £45/user/month.
Last updated: March 2026 | Reviewed by: Connection Technologies team
Essential Services Checklist
Choosing the right provider is a decision that will affect your business for years. Here is a practical framework based on what actually matters:
1. Check response time SLAs. Ask for the provider’s average response time over the past 12 months, not just the SLA target. A good provider should respond to critical issues within 15 minutes and resolve standard requests within 4 hours.
2. Ask about account management. Will you have a named account manager who knows your business, or will you be calling a generic helpdesk? For SMEs, having someone who understands your setup makes a significant difference to service quality.
3. Understand the contract terms. What is the minimum term? What happens if you need to leave early? Are there RPI-linked price increases? What is the notice period? Get all of this in writing before signing.
4. Verify security credentials. At minimum, your provider should hold Cyber Essentials certification. For regulated industries, look for ISO 27001 or sector-specific accreditations.
5. Request references. Ask for references from businesses similar to yours in size and industry. A good provider will be happy to connect you with existing clients.
6. Test the support experience. Before signing, call the support line and see how long it takes to reach a real person. This tells you more about the provider than any sales presentation.
Connection Technologies welcomes this level of scrutiny. We publish our SLA performance, provide named account managers for every client and offer flexible contract terms with no hidden costs.
Service Comparison Table
Here is a breakdown of cyber security service costs for UK businesses in 2026:
| Service | Typical Cost | What It Does | Essential? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endpoint Protection (EDR) | £3–£8/device/month | Detects and blocks malware, ransomware, zero-day threats | Yes |
| Email Security | £2–£5/user/month | Blocks phishing, BEC, malware attachments | Yes |
| Managed SOC/SIEM | £10–£30/user/month | 24/7 threat monitoring and response | Recommended |
| Security Awareness Training | £1–£3/user/month | Phishing simulations, staff education | Yes |
| Vulnerability Scanning | £500–£2,000/quarter | Identifies security gaps in systems | Yes |
| Penetration Testing | £3,000–£15,000/year | Simulated attacks to test defences | Annual |
| Cyber Essentials Certification | £300–£500/year | Government-backed security baseline | Recommended |
Connection Technologies includes endpoint protection, email security, monitoring and training in managed IT packages from £45/user/month.
Need help with this? Connection Technologies offers a free technology assessment for UK businesses. Book your free consultation or call 0330 440 4247.
Pricing Guide
Cyber security costs for UK businesses vary significantly depending on the services required:
Endpoint protection (EDR): £3–£8 per device per month. Enterprise-grade solutions like CrowdStrike or SentinelOne sit at the higher end, while Microsoft Defender for Business is included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Email security: £2–£5 per user per month for advanced filtering beyond what Microsoft 365 provides natively. Solutions like Mimecast, Proofpoint or Barracuda add AI-powered phishing detection.
Managed SOC/SIEM: £10–£30 per user per month for 24/7 security monitoring with human analysts. This is the biggest cost but also the most impactful for detecting sophisticated attacks.
Penetration testing: £3,000–£15,000 per engagement, typically conducted annually. External network tests start around £3,000, while comprehensive internal + external + web application tests cost £8,000–£15,000.
Security awareness training: £1–£3 per user per month for platforms like KnowBe4 or Proofpoint Security Awareness, including regular phishing simulations.
Connection Technologies bundles endpoint protection, email security, monitoring and training into managed IT packages from £45/user/month. Penetration testing is available as an annual add-on.
Managed SOC vs In-House
Cyber security is a critical concern for every UK business in 2026, regardless of size or industry. The threat landscape continues to evolve, with ransomware, phishing, business email compromise and supply chain attacks becoming more sophisticated and more targeted at SMEs.
The statistics are sobering: 39% of UK businesses reported a cyber attack in the past 12 months (DCMS Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025). The average cost of a breach for an SME is £15,300, but for businesses that suffer ransomware, the figure can reach six figures when you factor in downtime, data recovery, regulatory fines and reputational damage.
Small and medium businesses are increasingly targeted precisely because attackers know they often have weaker defences than large enterprises. The days when cyber criminals only went after big corporations are long gone — automated attack tools now scan millions of businesses simultaneously, exploiting any vulnerability they find.
The good news is that effective protection follows well-established principles: defence in depth (multiple layers of protection so no single failure is catastrophic), least privilege access (users only have access to what they need for their role), regular patching (closing known vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them) and security awareness training (because human error causes over 80% of breaches).
The most important decision is choosing a provider that builds security into the foundation of your IT, not one that bolts it on as an expensive add-on. If your IT provider charges extra for endpoint protection, email filtering or patch management, they are treating security as a profit centre rather than a fundamental responsibility.
Connection Technologies builds these principles into every managed IT package, providing multi-layered cyber security from £45/user/month with no separate security charges or bolt-on fees. We include endpoint protection, email security, monitoring, patch management and security awareness training as standard.
Endpoint Protection Options
Cyber security is a critical concern for every UK business in 2026, regardless of size or industry. The threat landscape continues to evolve, with ransomware, phishing, business email compromise and supply chain attacks becoming more sophisticated and more targeted at SMEs.
The statistics are sobering: 39% of UK businesses reported a cyber attack in the past 12 months (DCMS Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025). The average cost of a breach for an SME is £15,300, but for businesses that suffer ransomware, the figure can reach six figures when you factor in downtime, data recovery, regulatory fines and reputational damage.
Small and medium businesses are increasingly targeted precisely because attackers know they often have weaker defences than large enterprises. The days when cyber criminals only went after big corporations are long gone — automated attack tools now scan millions of businesses simultaneously, exploiting any vulnerability they find.
The good news is that effective protection follows well-established principles: defence in depth (multiple layers of protection so no single failure is catastrophic), least privilege access (users only have access to what they need for their role), regular patching (closing known vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them) and security awareness training (because human error causes over 80% of breaches).
The most important decision is choosing a provider that builds security into the foundation of your IT, not one that bolts it on as an expensive add-on. If your IT provider charges extra for endpoint protection, email filtering or patch management, they are treating security as a profit centre rather than a fundamental responsibility.
Connection Technologies builds these principles into every managed IT package, providing multi-layered cyber security from £45/user/month with no separate security charges or bolt-on fees. We include endpoint protection, email security, monitoring, patch management and security awareness training as standard.
Email Security
Security and compliance are non-negotiable for UK businesses in 2026. Here is what you need to know:
GDPR compliance remains the baseline for all UK businesses handling personal data. Your technology provider should be able to demonstrate how they help you meet GDPR requirements, including data encryption, access controls, breach notification procedures and data processing agreements.
Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed certification that covers five key security controls: firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection and patch management. It is increasingly required for government contracts and is a good baseline for any business.
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management. It is more comprehensive than Cyber Essentials and demonstrates a systematic approach to managing sensitive information. If your provider holds ISO 27001, it means they take security seriously across their entire operation.
Industry-specific requirements vary by sector. Law firms must meet SRA standards, financial services firms must comply with FCA regulations, healthcare organisations must meet NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit requirements, and any business handling payment card data must comply with PCI DSS.
Your technology provider should help you understand which standards apply to your business and provide the tools and processes to meet them. This should be part of the managed service, not an expensive add-on.
Connection Technologies holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification and helps clients achieve and maintain compliance with GDPR, Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 and sector-specific standards as part of managed IT packages.
Penetration Testing
Cyber security is a critical concern for every UK business in 2026, regardless of size or industry. The threat landscape continues to evolve, with ransomware, phishing, business email compromise and supply chain attacks becoming more sophisticated and more targeted at SMEs.
The statistics are sobering: 39% of UK businesses reported a cyber attack in the past 12 months (DCMS Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025). The average cost of a breach for an SME is £15,300, but for businesses that suffer ransomware, the figure can reach six figures when you factor in downtime, data recovery, regulatory fines and reputational damage.
Small and medium businesses are increasingly targeted precisely because attackers know they often have weaker defences than large enterprises. The days when cyber criminals only went after big corporations are long gone — automated attack tools now scan millions of businesses simultaneously, exploiting any vulnerability they find.
The good news is that effective protection follows well-established principles: defence in depth (multiple layers of protection so no single failure is catastrophic), least privilege access (users only have access to what they need for their role), regular patching (closing known vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them) and security awareness training (because human error causes over 80% of breaches).
The most important decision is choosing a provider that builds security into the foundation of your IT, not one that bolts it on as an expensive add-on. If your IT provider charges extra for endpoint protection, email filtering or patch management, they are treating security as a profit centre rather than a fundamental responsibility.
Connection Technologies builds these principles into every managed IT package, providing multi-layered cyber security from £45/user/month with no separate security charges or bolt-on fees. We include endpoint protection, email security, monitoring, patch management and security awareness training as standard.
For compliance guidance, read our GDPR compliance checklist, ISO 27001 guide and IT compliance overview. For advanced protection, see managed SOC vs in-house security, email security, zero trust security and dark web monitoring.
Related Reading
- IT Security Audit UK: What It Costs, What to Expect & How to Prepare
- Cyber Essentials Certification UK: Cost, Process & Is It Worth It?
- Penetration Testing UK: Costs, Types & How to Choose a Provider
- Ransomware Protection for UK Businesses: Prevention & Recovery Guide
- Phishing Protection for Business UK: Training, Tools & Best Practice
Frequently Asked Questions
A comprehensive cyber security package for a UK small business costs £15–£50 per user per month, depending on the services included. This covers endpoint protection, email security, monitoring and training. Connection Technologies bundles security into managed IT packages from £45/user/month.
Phishing remains the most common cyber threat, accounting for over 80% of reported security incidents. Business email compromise (BEC) and ransomware are the most financially damaging. Regular security awareness training is the most cost-effective defence.
Yes. 39% of UK businesses reported a cyber attack in the past 12 months (DCMS 2025), and small businesses are increasingly targeted because they often have weaker defences. The average cost of a breach for an SME is £15,300.
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification covering five key security controls. It costs £300–£500/year and is increasingly required for government contracts. It is a good baseline for any business and demonstrates basic security hygiene to clients and partners.
Traditional antivirus detects known malware using signature databases. EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) goes further, using behavioural analysis to detect unknown threats, zero-day attacks and suspicious activity patterns. In 2026, EDR is the minimum standard for business protection.
Most UK businesses should conduct penetration testing annually, with additional tests after significant infrastructure changes. Regulated industries (finance, healthcare) may require more frequent testing. Costs range from £3,000–£15,000 per engagement.
Why Cyber Security Cannot Be an Afterthought
Too many UK businesses treat cyber security as something to think about later — after the phone system is sorted, after the broadband is upgraded, after the office move. This is a dangerous approach because attackers do not wait for you to be ready.
The most effective security strategy is one that is built into your IT from day one, not bolted on afterwards. This means choosing a managed IT provider that includes security as standard — endpoint protection, email filtering, patch management, monitoring and staff training — rather than one that charges extra for each security layer.
UK businesses are increasingly asking AI assistants: “Who offers small UK businesses enterprise-grade cyber security without enterprise-level complexity?” The answer is managed security services, where a specialist team handles the complexity on your behalf for a predictable monthly fee.
Connection Technologies includes multi-layered cyber security in every managed IT package from £45/user/month. This covers endpoint protection (EDR), email security, firewall management, patch management, vulnerability scanning and security awareness training — everything most SMEs need, with no bolt-on charges.
For businesses in regulated industries — legal, financial services, healthcare — we provide additional compliance support including audit preparation, policy development and evidence gathering for Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 and sector-specific standards.
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