02/10/2026
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: The 10 Cyber Basics UK Firms Still Miss
While AI is dominating the cyber conversation this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, most modern attacks still rely on familiar, basic weaknesses: stolen credentials, untrusted software, and allow-by-default setups.
Recent incidents across the UK, from critical infrastructure targets to major data and device wipes, prove that until the fundamentals are fixed, attackers will keep using the same easy routes in.
To build a true Zero Trust posture, ThreatLocker® suggests UK organisations must lock down these 10 essential steps:
1️⃣ Upgrade MFA: Require it for email, cloud, remote access, and admin accounts—backed by device verification.
2️⃣ Devalue Stolen Credentials: Use unique passwords in a managed password manager and kill shared accounts.
3️⃣ Remove Local Admin Rights: Grant access only to approved people/tasks for a strictly limited time.
4️⃣ Adopt Deny-by-Default: Block untrusted software and run only what is approved.
5️⃣ Restrict Trusted Applications: Control how apps interact with files, credentials, and network resources.
6️⃣ Control Storage & Media: Restrict unauthorised USBs and external devices to stop exfiltration.
7️⃣ Secure Network Traffic: Ensure approved apps only reach necessary network resources.
8️⃣ Maintain Visibility: Continuously log and monitor system events and admin actions.
9️⃣ Patch Systematically: Keep OS and third-party software updated to close known gaps.
🔟 Secure Your Backups: Use isolated, immutable backups to ensure resilience against ransomware.
Don't let shiny objects distract from the foundations. Which of these areas does your organisation need to tighten up most?
👉 Need help securing your systems?
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