M+A Partners HomeBlogFree Cyber Security Advice Available to Businesses

Cyber breaches and attacks are becoming increasingly common, with businesses of all sizes facing a growing range of cyber threats. According to statistics from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), 65% of medium-sized organisations and 46% of small organisations reported an attack in 2025.

For small and medium-sized businesses looking to strengthen their cyber security, the NCSC is currently offering 30 minutes of free advice from a cyber adviser. The session provides an opportunity to discuss a business’s current set-up, understand potential areas of risk and identify practical steps that could be taken to improve cyber security.

Education and awareness are powerful tools when it comes to reducing cyber risk. Ensuring that business owners and their teams understand the threats they face, and know how to identify and respond to them, can play an important role in protecting an organisation.

What does the free advice cover?

The session is designed to provide practical, tailored guidance, including:

  • Steps businesses can take to strengthen their cyber security;
  • An introduction to the Cyber Essentials certification process; and
  • Practical advice that can be implemented straight away.

The advice is available to businesses with fewer than 250 employees that are ready to discuss their current cyber security set-up with a cyber adviser.

The NCSC states that the consultation does not involve an upsell of its services or pressure to pursue Cyber Essentials certification. It is simply an opportunity for businesses to gain a better understanding of the measures that could be appropriate for them.

What is Cyber Essentials?

If you have not come across Cyber Essentials before, it is a government-backed certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against some of the most common cyber threats.

For businesses considering how to strengthen their cyber security, it can provide a useful framework for reviewing existing systems, processes and employee awareness.

Find out more about the free cyber security consultation here.

Written by

Mary-Anne Sargeant
Mary-Anne Sargeant
Partner
BIO
Mary-Anne joined M+A Partners in 2003 and was made a Partner in the firm in 2006. Mary-Anne and her team are based in our Attleborough office and provide professional accountancy and tax advice for a wide range of clients, from brand new start-ups to well-established family and owner-managed businesses and from private individuals to sole traders, partnerships and corporate clients.

Mary-Anne is a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant and was placed top in the UK when she undertook her Chartered Institute of Tax exams. She is committed to building lasting relationships with clients, based on gaining a clear understanding of their current and future business needs and taxation issues.

With over 20 years’ experience within the profession, Mary-Anne has the knowledge and experience to provide a portfolio of accountancy and taxation services that support the establishment and ongoing development of a business. Working closely with clients to understand their immediate and long-term requirements, she gives knowledgeable advice that caters to each unique set of circumstances.

Mary-Anne provides guidance on all aspects of accountancy and tax, from deciding on the best business structure; making the move to self-employment; setting up a limited company and guiding clients on both how they work as well as their pitfalls; optimising personal and business tax reliefs; assisting with tax planning for private individuals and companies; to of course dealing with the preparation of accounts, tax returns and VAT returns.
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