Cyber attacks 'a wake up call' for firms to prioritise their security, says minister

A WAVE of cyber attacks should be “a wake-up call” for every business in the country, a senior minister will say.

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Harrods became the latest high-profile UK retailer to fall victim to hacking in recent days, after a serious ransomware attack on Marks & Spencer forced the company to suspend online orders and halt recruitment.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden will use a keynote speech to urge companies to treat cyber security “as an absolute priority.” Speaking at the CyberUK conference in Manchester next week, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Mr McFadden will say: “These attacks need to be a wake-up call for every business in the UK.

“In a world where the cybercriminals targeting us are relentless in their pursuit of profit - with attempts being made every hour of every day - companies must treat cybersecurity as an absolute priority.

“We've watched in real time the disruption these attacks have caused, including to working families going about their everyday lives.