Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues on the potential vulnerability of SMEs to cyber-attacks.

The 2023 Cyber Security Breaches Survey shows 32% of small businesses and 31% of micro businesses identified having suffered a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months. This is a decline on 2022, however we believe this may be due to smaller businesses deprioritising cyber security and being less likely to identify breaches and attacks, rather than a reduction in the threat.

Our strategy, working with other relevant Departments and Agencies, is therefore to make it as easy as possible for SMEs to be secure.