BT launches AI cyber tools for UK SMEs as attacks soar

BT Business has launched a new suite of cyber security tools for UK small and medium-sized enterprises as it reports a 300% year-on-year rise in malicious scanning activity.

The launch includes AI-powered security tools developed with CrowdStrike, along with a free support service for smaller businesses seeking advice on cyber risks.

BT's network data shows connected devices are now probed about 4,000 times a day on average, while the company blocks 4 million cyber attacks across its networks each day.

Small and medium-sized businesses remain exposed. Half of SMEs rank cyber threats among their main technology concerns, yet about 1.8 million businesses - roughly one in three across the UK SME base - still lack basic cyber protection.

Government figures cited by BT put the average cost of a cyber breach to a UK business at £3,550. The same data suggests 43% of UK businesses experienced at least one breach or attack in the past year.

Support tools

The new offering combines paid security products with free guidance tools for businesses with limited in-house expertise. BT said its Cyber Support Hub was developed in line with National Cyber Security Centre guidance.

The free services include a Cyber Health Check, which provides a self-assessment, cyber score and prioritised action plan. BT is also offering access to Cyber Guides, a team of advisers available by phone, online chat and in-store, alongside an AI Cyber Assistant designed to answer cyber security questions at any time.

The commercial part of the launch centres on endpoint security for SMEs, using CrowdStrike technology to monitor suspicious activity in real time and respond automatically to potential threats.

BT is targeting the package at smaller firms that face the same types of attacks as larger organisations but often lack dedicated security teams or specialist budgets. Its research found more than eight in 10 SMEs believe personalised, in-person guidance would help them improve their security.

Jon James outlined BT Business's view of the threat facing smaller firms.

"As technology continues to evolve at breakneck speed, cyber-attacks are becoming ever more sophisticated. For UK SMEs, this means they now must defend themselves against the same highly complex threats faced by large enterprises, without the resources, expertise or budget to match.

BT protects more businesses than any other network, so we know the level of threat they face - and because cyber threats don't care about size of your business, neither should the protection we provide our customers. That's why we're offering new AI-powered solutions and a range of expert guidance and support, providing big business security to the UK's small businesses," said Jon James, chief executive of BT Business.

Growing pressure

The announcement reflects wider pressure on smaller companies to strengthen cyber defences as attack methods become easier to scale. BT attributed part of the rise in malicious scanning to the growing use of AI tools by attackers.

The National Cyber Security Centre said small businesses remain vulnerable to increasingly frequent attacks and should put basic protections in place.

"The cyber threat to UK organisations is increasing and small businesses are certainly not immune from attacks and their potentially devastating consequences.

Alongside providers like BT, we are working tirelessly to ensure every organisation has the tools they need to put in place the cyber security basics consistently and comprehensively. It is vital that SME owners manage the cyber risks they face by taking action to protect themselves," said Jonathon Ellison, director for national resilience at the National Cyber Security Centre.

BT said the SME rollout extends its broader cyber security portfolio for public and private sector organisations in the UK. The company is backing the launch with what it described as its largest security marketing campaign to date.

The focus on free advisory tools suggests BT is addressing a market where many smaller companies have yet to adopt even basic cyber safeguards, despite rising breach costs and growing concern among business owners about the operational and financial impact of attacks.