UK faces record surge in cyberattacks, NCSC warns

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has reported a 50% surge in "highly significant" cyberattacks over the past year.

The Guardian reports that, according to the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, there's been a 50% surge in "highly significant" cyberattacks over the past year, warning that the nation now faces a major incident every two days.

In its latest annual review, the NCSC said ransomware remains the leading threat, driven by both state-sponsored actors, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and financially motivated criminal groups.

Security leaders described the situation as "a call to arms," urging organisations of all sizes to make cyber resilience a board-level priority and prepare for the possibility of operational paralysis.

GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler cautioned companies to "prioritise cyber risk management" as attacks become "more intense, frequent, and sophisticated."

The NCSC handled 429 incidents in the past year, including ransomware attacks on Marks & Spencer and the Co-op Group, marking the highest activity level in nearly a decade. Officials also warned that hackers are increasingly using AI to enhance their tactics.

Written by

Sharon Florentine Editorial Director

Sharon Florentine is the editorial director for CyberRisk Alliance’s Channel Brands and acting editorial director for SC UK. She is responsible for setting strategy and editorial direction and developing content for news, features, analysis and other written content, moderates live webcasts, and oversees research projects. Sharon has previously held key editorial, content and leadership positions at DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, CIO.com, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and CRN, among others.