October is coming to an end, and with it, another Cyber Security Awareness Month.
Across Hull and East Yorkshire, businesses have run the training sessions, sent the “think before you click” emails, and perhaps even ticked the box on a compliance check. It’s tempting to file it all away under “job done” and get back to the real work of running your business.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: for cybercriminals, November 1st is just another Tuesday.
They didn’t get the memo that awareness month is over. They aren’t packing up. In fact, they’re counting on you to do just that. They thrive on “set it and forget it” security.
We get it. As a local business owner or manager, you’re juggling operations, staff, and customer demands. You simply don’t have the time to be a full-time cyber detective. The problem is, modern cybersecurity requires a detective.
This is the single biggest shift in our industry: moving from “static defence” to “proactive investigation.”
The Myth of the “Set it and Forget It” Wall
For years, the standard IT advice was to build a strong wall. Buy the best firewall, install the best antivirus, and you’re “safe.”
This is like installing a state-of-the-art lock on your building and then never rechecking it to ensure it’s still secure. You wouldn’t dream of it. You have alarms, CCTV, and maybe even a night watchman. You know that a lock only stops an opportunist; a determined burglar will test the windows, check the roof, and look for a key left under the mat.
Your digital “building” is no different. A firewall is your lock. But who is watching the “CCTV”?
Reactive Security (The Old Way): An alert pops up. “Malware Blocked.” This is good, but it’s a sign of failure, not success. It means the burglar was already at your door, picking the lock. You got lucky.
Proactive Security (The New Way): You actively hunt for the burglar before they even reach the door. You look for suspicious behaviour, like someone scouting the building, testing windows, or tampering with the alarm box.
This proactive “threat hunting” is the investigation. It’s a continuous, 24/7 process of asking “Is everything really okay?”
“We’re Just an SME in Hull. Why Would They Target Us?”
This is a question we hear frequently, and it’s a dangerous one.
The notion that criminals only target large banks or global brands is outdated. In reality, SMEs are the perfect target. Why?
- You’re the “Soft” Target: Attackers assume (often correctly) that you have limited IT resources, older systems, and no dedicated security team.
- You’re a Gateway: Businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire have deep, vital supply chains. You might be a logistics partner for a national retailer, a legal firm holding sensitive client data, or a manufacturer with valuable intellectual property. Becoming a trusted partner is the easiest way to reach your larger clients.
- Your Data is Valuable: It’s Not Just About Money. Employee PII (Personally Identifiable Information), customer lists, and financial records can all be stolen and sold on the black market.
Running a business here is demanding enough without this worry. But ignoring it is no longer an option. So, how do you run a 24/7 investigation without hiring a team of detectives?
Proactive Cybersecurity: The Three Key Pillars for Your Business
Treating security as an ongoing investigation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It boils down to three core, continuous activities.
1. Active 24/7 Monitoring (The ‘Night Watchman’)
You can’t investigate what you can’t see. Your firewall, servers, and laptops all create “log” files—a constant stream of data saying what they’re doing. By default, this data is lost in a void.
What it is: Proactive monitoring involves using tools (often referred to as SIEM or XDR) that serve as a central hub, collecting all these logs. More importantly, it means having human experts and intelligent AI watching that hub 24/7.
The Investigation: They aren’t waiting for a “Malware Detected” siren. They’re looking for the quiet, suspicious clues.
- “Why did a user’s account log in from Hull, and then 10 minutes later from halfway across the world?”
- “Why is the finance manager’s PC suddenly trying to access the server backups at 3 AM?”
- “Why is a small, seemingly harmless file trying to contact a known-bad server?”
This is the 24/7 “night watchman” who spots the suspicious van parked down the street, long before anyone tries the door.
2. Continuous Vulnerability Management (Checking the ‘Windows’)
You’ve patched your systems. But did the patch work? Is there a new device on your network (like a “smart” printer or a visitor’s laptop) that’s wide open?
What it is: This process involves constantly scanning your own network from the outside in, much like a criminal would. It’s a non-stop hunt for unlocked windows, broken locks, and open doors (known as vulnerabilities).
The Investigation: When a vulnerability is found, it’s not just logged for a quarterly review. It’s flagged, prioritised, and fixed. This closes the hole before an attacker can find and exploit it.
3. Ongoing Education (Your ‘Inside Sources’)
Cyber Security Awareness Month is a great start, but one “awareness” campaign a year doesn’t build a secure culture. Your team is your single greatest asset—and your single most significant risk.
What it is: Proactive education means turning your staff into an active part of your defence. This involves year-round, bite-sized training and, crucially, regular, simulated phishing tests.
The Investigation: These “fake” phishing emails aren’t intended to catch people out. They’re a data-gathering tool.
- “Is our team still clicking on fake ‘invoice’ emails?”
- “Do they know how to report a suspicious email, or do they just delete it?”
This allows you to tailor your training, focusing on the real-world tactics that are targeting your team today.
The Investigation Never Ends. But You Don’t Have to Lead It.
As we move on from Cyber Security Awareness Month, the key takeaway is this: awareness is not a one-time event; it’s a permanent state of mind.
Your business deserves a security posture that is as relentless and adaptable as the criminals it’s designed to stop.
For a local SME, this level of proactive, 24/7 investigation is practically impossible to manage in-house. It requires specialist tools, a deep understanding of the threat landscape, and a team that never sleeps.
That’s where we come in.
At PrimaryTech, we act as the dedicated cyber detective for businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire. We manage the 24/7 watch, proactively hunt for vulnerabilities, and partner with you to build a resilient and secure team.
Don’t let the end of October be the end of your security focus. Let it be the start of your new, proactive strategy
Published: October 27