Almost one in three firms hit by cyber attacks
Drawing on insights from 6,800 small businesses across the US, UK, Europe and the US, the 2026 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report – now in its 10th year – reveals how cyber incidents are shifting from an occasional threat to a routine cost of doing business in the digital economy.
With nearly one in three organisations (29%) globally being hit by a successful cyber-attack in the past year, the report highlights how dramatically the cyber risk landscape has evolved, with companies now treating it as a core business risk.
See below for a summary of the key data.
Eddie Lamb, Global Head of Cyber at Hiscox, said the findings highlight how the nature of cyber risk has evolved over the past decade.
Whatever your company’s size and sector, it’s useful to think about contingency plans should the worst happen. What would you do in the event of a long-term blackout? How would your existing security systems cope with a significant hacking attempt?
Professional Benefits Programme
To support our members with their risk management, we work with specialist insurer, Hiscox, who offer cyber and data risks insurance, along with a range of other policies to help protect your business.
For more information and to benefit from a 12.5% discount* on their standard rates for the life of your policy, call 0800 280 0354 quoting your IoD membership number.
Hiscox wants to help your small business thrive. Their blog articles will contain lots of useful information relevant to your growing business, but these articles do not constitute professional advice and must not be construed nor relied upon as such. To find out more on a subject we cover here, please seek professional assistance, specific to your circumstances.
*Any discount is only applicable to policies introduced via the Institute of Directors, whether existing or new, but could not be applied to policies that are being managed by an alternative third party such as an insurance broker.
Discount available for the lifetime of your policy applies on renewals while the Institute of Directors remains an Introducer Appointed Representative of Hiscox Underwriting Ltd.
Terms and conditions apply. Subject to underwriting criteria. For full terms and conditions see hiscox.co.uk/IoD/business-insurance.
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The Institute of Directors is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Hiscox Underwriting Ltd. who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For UK businesses only.
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