Discover how cyber security and AI are changing IT support for UK SMEs. Learn the key risks, practical steps to take in 2025, and how a multi‑award‑winning, Cyber Essentials certified Microsoft Partner can help.

• How the cyber threat landscape has changed for SMEs
• Where AI actually helps in IT support (and where it doesn’t)
• Practical steps you should be taking now
• How a managed IT support provider can deliver this in a sensible, business‑friendly way

1. How the cyber threat landscape has changed

• Phishing and business email compromise – attackers trick staff into handing over credentials or approving payments.
• Ransomware – data is encrypted and held to ransom, often with threats to leak it.
• Account takeover – attackers get into Microsoft 365 or other cloud services and quietly watch, forward emails or exfiltrate data.
• Supply chain attacks – a partner or supplier is compromised, and you’re hit indirectly.

• More targeted – referencing real clients, projects or staff names.
• More frequent – especially around busy periods or organisational change.
• More expensive – not just in recovery costs, but downtime and reputational damage.

2. Where AI actually helps in IT support

• Email security with AI‑based filtering
  Modern email security platforms use machine learning to spot suspicious patterns in emails—links, wording, sender behaviour—far beyond simple blocklists.
• Endpoint protection and EDR
  AI‑driven endpoint tools look for unusual behaviour on devices (e.g. mass file encryption, strange processes) and can automatically isolate a machine before damage spreads.
• User behaviour analytics
  Tools can flag when a user logs in from an unusual location, downloads far more data than normal, or accesses systems at odd times.
• Ticket triage and automation
  On the IT support side, AI can help categorise tickets, suggest fixes, and automate simple tasks—freeing engineers to focus on higher‑value work and complex incidents.

3. Practical steps SMEs should take in 2025

1. Multi‑factor authentication (MFA) everywhere
   • Enable MFA on Microsoft 365, VPNs and any critical cloud apps.
   • Prefer app‑based or hardware key MFA over SMS where possible.
2. Modern endpoint protection (EDR/MDR)
   • Move beyond traditional antivirus to tools that can detect and respond to suspicious behaviour.
   • Consider a managed detection and response (MDR) service if you don’t have in‑house security expertise.
3. Email security and phishing protection
   • Use advanced email filtering and anti‑phishing tools.
   • Run regular phishing simulations and user training.
4. Robust backups and recovery
   • Ensure you have tested backups for Microsoft 365, servers and key systems.
   • Confirm you can restore quickly enough to meet your recovery time objectives.
5. Access control and least privilege
   • Review who has admin rights and access to sensitive data.
   • Use conditional access policies in Microsoft 365 where appropriate.

4. How a managed IT support provider makes this achievable

• Design a layered security stack that fits your size, risk profile and budget.
• Implement and manage tools like email security, EDR, backups and MFA.
• Monitor alerts and respond quickly when something looks wrong.
• Provide regular reporting so you know your risk is reducing over time.

5. How Amazing Support approaches cyber security & AI for SMEs

• Security baked into managed IT support
  We don’t treat security as an optional extra. Endpoint protection, patching, email security and backups are built into how we deliver managed IT support, not bolted on afterwards.
• Use of modern, AI‑enhanced tools
  We use industry‑standard platforms for email filtering, endpoint protection and monitoring that leverage AI to spot threats faster—while our engineers handle the interpretation and response.
• The Amazing Way®: full ownership of issues
  If something looks wrong—suspicious logins, unusual device behaviour, failed backups—we take ownership, investigate and resolve. You’re not left trying to interpret alerts yourself.
• Local presence, consistent standards
  Whether your users are in London, Hertfordshire, Manchester or fully remote, they get the same security standards, support processes and communication.
• Practical, business‑focused advice
  We translate security and AI into concrete actions: what to enable, what to buy, what to train, and what to monitor—without overwhelming your team with jargon.

6. Why this matters now

• They know many have weaker defences than large enterprises.
• Cloud services like Microsoft 365 are widely used and, if misconfigured, easy to exploit.
• A single successful attack can be highly disruptive—and often goes unreported.

Plan your MFA and cyber security roadmap

Plan your MFA and cyber security roadmap for 2025
If you’re not sure whether your current setup is enough, we can review your existing tools, policies and Microsoft 365 configuration and outline a practical, staged roadmap to improve security without disrupting your team.