Cyber criminals are constantly looking for weaknesses they can exploit to harm businesses and patients. Just over four in 10 businesses (43%) reported experiencing a cyber security breach or attack in the previous 12 months, according to the government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey (DSIT, 2026a). They face financial losses and lengthy service disruption, with people’s personal data often caught in the crossfire.

Launching the government’s cyber security pledge in July 2026, the then Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Cyber attacks can disrupt services, put customers’ data at risk and have a real impact on the bottom line. As AI makes these threats more sophisticated and easier to launch, no organisation can afford to stand still” (DSIT, 2026b).

Companies taking the pledge sign up for the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC’s) free early-warning service that alerts organisations to potentially suspicious network activity. 

Don’t assume independent practices are too small to be targets. Adam Underwood, Director at AMA, a business communications company that supports optometry businesses, says: “Healthcare practices are becoming more attractive because of the sensitive patient data available. Any device that has continuous power and stores data is vulnerable.

“With so many connected devices such as OCT, fundus cameras, and cloud imaging storage, every single device is attractive to hackers.”