One in five small UK firms could close within months after a cyber breach
Small UK businesses could be sleepwalking into a cybersecurity crisis, with one in five admitting they would have to close their doors within three months in the event of a data breach.
A poll of 1,000 SME owners revealed they face a combined estimated loss of up to £100k annually due to unbudgeted security fixes and malware recovery.
The research highlights that despite the risks, 58 per cent connect to free public Wi-Fi with 15 per cent accessing sensitive work documents while connected this way. Day‑to‑day habits raise further concerns, as almost a third (32 per cent) of SMEs admitted to working from a coffee shop and 24 per cent on public transport at least once a week, according to the findings from Samsung.
Even though many blame breaches on phishing and staff awareness, 67 per cent haven’t introduced new cybersecurity measures in the past year. Worse still, 45 per cent provide no training at all, so employees miss the warning signs of phishing and early malware, leaving businesses exposed.
The research was commissioned to launch the Galaxy S26 Ultra Enterprise Edition, alongside a new video featuring former cybersecurity expert and 2026 Traitors winner, Stephen Libby, bringing to life the dangers of weak digital practices in the workplace.
Stephen Libby said: “Cyber security breaches are a massive issue for any business, and this traitorous behaviour can especially effect SMEs. A single incident can disrupt operations or even force business to close.
“With so much work now happening on phones, it’s crucial that businesses make sure they’re using devices with strong built-in security and privacy protections to keep sensitive information safe.”
More than a fifth (21 per cent) of businesses polled described their current approach to security as reactive rather than proactive. Business owners say they’re aware of threats like phishing and scam messages (88 per cent), malware (84 per cent), unauthorised apps (53 per cent), rooting/firmware tampering (32 per cent) and snooping (29 per cent).
One in five admitted they wouldn’t know if their device had been compromised, and 58 per cent download apps or software to work devices without checking security permissions first. Nearly one in four (23 per cent) have left a device unlocked and unattended in public and 31 per cent still never use a physical privacy screen to protect their data.
It’s not just laptops, three quarters (74 per cent) use their mobile for work, yet almost half (49 per cent) say cybersecurity isn’t a top priority when choosing a device.
Annika Bizon from Samsung, which has developed its new device with a built‑in Privacy Display to shield on‑screen information and government‑grade Samsung Knox security, added: "Small and medium businesses are the backbone of our economy, yet they are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals because they often lack enterprise-grade protection.
"Technology should help level the playing field. By building advanced security directly, we’re helping businesses with the tools to stay proactive and protect sensitive data wherever work happens.”