As we move closer to 2026, cyber threats are becoming more advanced and frequent. Businesses of all sizes are being targeted, which means outdated security habits are no longer enough to keep data, staff and systems protected. At Edmondson’s, we work with businesses across Yorkshire and the UK to strengthen help their cybersecurity and reduce the risk of costly breaches. Reviewing your security now can help you to stay ahead of new threats and build a safer, more resilient IT environment for the year ahead.

Below, we cover the essential cyber security areas every business should review before 2026. By strengthening these foundations, you can protect your organisation from many of the most common cyber attacks.

Multi Factor Authentication

Multi factor authentication (MFA) is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your business online. MFA requires users to confirm their identity through multiple methods, usually a code sent to a mobile device after the password is entered. This stops criminals accessing accounts even if they’ve got a hold of the password.

Many cyber-attacks a caused by stolen login details, often taken from previous data breaches or using automation tools. With MFA in place, stolen passwords on their own are useless, which is why we recommend enabling it to protect your most sensitive and valuable data.

Phishing Awareness and Staff Training

Phishing remains one of the biggest threats to businesses today. Criminals are sending increasingly convincing emails that look genuine, often pretending to be suppliers, banks or even colleagues. Just one mistaken click can lead to stolen data, payment fraud or malware infecting the network.

As we approach 2026, phishing attacks are becoming more targeted and more difficult to identify without proper training. We’d recommend all businesses invest in regular cyber awareness sessions so staff can recognise suspicious emails, links and requests.

Useful topics to cover include:

How to spot fake emails

The dangers of clicking unknown links

Why unexpected attachments should never be opened

What to do if you think you’ve been targeted

At Edmondson’s, we provide training and advice tailored to each team, helping staff feel confident and reducing the risk of human error.

Backups and Data Protection

Reliable backups are essential for every business. Without them, a single ransomware attack or hardware failure can cause permanent data loss and major operational disruption. As cyber threats evolve, so should your backup strategy. We advise a mix of local and cloud based backups, along with automated daily routines and regular tests.

Key questions to ask include:

Are your backups running daily without fail?

Have you tested a restore recently?

Do you have copies stored off site or in the cloud?

Is your backup system protected from ransomware?

Edmondson’s offers secure backup solutions using ReadyNAS storage, which includes multiple drive redundancy, real time anti virus, and automatic cloud syncing. This ensures your data is safe even if one system fails.

Firewalls and Network Security

Your firewall is the gatekeeper between your business network and the outside world. If it’s outdated, misconfigured or unsupported, your entire system’s at risk. Reviewing your firewall setup helps you to strengthen your business against external attacks.

Modern firewalls provide far more than basic filtering. They can block suspicious traffic, detect unusual behaviour and protect against known threats. However, many small businesses still rely on old hardware and default settings that offer limited protection.

It’s important to check:

Is your firewall still supported by the manufacturer?

Are the latest security updates installed?

Is it configured correctly for your business needs?

Do you have rules in place to block risky traffic?

Edmondson’s can audit your network to ensure your firewall is secure and set up properly, reducing gaps that criminals could exploit.

Continuous Monitoring and Real Time Alerts

Cyber security isn’t something you can just set up and forget about. Threats evolve daily, which means your business needs continuous monitoring to spot issues early and prevent them from escalating.

Real time monitoring tools track system performance, login attempts, unusual activity and potential security risks. If something suspicious is detected, an alert is triggered so the issue can be investigated quickly.

This proactive approach is particularly important as we head towards 2026 when cyber attacks are expected to increase in both volume and complexity. At Edmondson’s, our monitoring tools help businesses to stay informed and protected around the clock, giving them confidence that issues will be caught before they cause serious disruption.

Prepare Your Business for the Years Ahead

Strengthening your cyber security now will help to protect your business from growing and evolving threats. If you’re unsure where to start, our free IT health check can help to highlight security risks and provide clear recommendations to improve your safety and resilience. Get in touch today to prepare your business for 2026.