On the morning of 8th July 2025, business leaders, IT professionals and cybersecurity experts gathered at the Charlotte House Hotel in Lincoln for our Cyber Security Breakfast Summit. With breakfast provided and coffee cups steaming, attendees were treated to a compelling and practical exploration of the rising threat of cyber-attacks and what businesses of all sizes can do to defend themselves.
A Warm Welcome and a Clear Mission
The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Paul Reames, Managing Director of Bluecube, and Jack Waby, Sales Director. Their opening remarks set the tone: this wasn’t a technical deep dive, but a business-focused session aimed at helping leaders understand the real-world implications of cyber threats and the proactive steps they can take to protect their organisations.
The Rising Threat: Cyber-Attacks on the Rise
The first presentation, led by Paul Reames and Jack Waby, tackled the alarming rise in cyber-attacks across the UK. More than 50% of UK businesses have experienced some form of cyber-attack in the past year, with SMBs facing a staggering 70% attack rate. These statistics underscore the urgency of the issue and the need for robust cybersecurity strategies.
The two case studies described by Jack Waby, illustrated the devastating impact of cyber breaches:
- Marks & Spencer (April 2025): A sophisticated ransomware attack began with compromised IT helpdesk credentials. The attackers used social engineering to bypass security, escalated privileges, and ultimately accessed encrypted data. The fallout included £300 million in profit losses, regulatory fines and reputational damage.
- Knights of Old (2023): A 160-year-old haulage firm based in Kettering was forced into administration following a cyber-attack. The breach stemmed from stolen credentials and poor MSP advice, resulting in over 700 redundancies.
These examples served as sobering reminders that cyber threats are not limited to large corporations. Any organisation with assets is a potential target.
Bluecube’s Layered Security Strategy: Protect, Detect, Contain
Bluecube’s approach to cybersecurity is built on three pillars: Protect, Detect and Contain. This layered strategy ensures that businesses are not only shielded from threats but also equipped to respond swiftly and effectively when breaches occur.
The Basics: Low-Cost, High-Impact Measures
Before diving into advanced solutions, Paul Reames emphasised the importance of basic security hygiene:
- Security Awareness Training: Educating staff about phishing, credential theft and safe online practices.
- Password Management: Using tools like Dashlane to generate and store secure passwords.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of protection to user accounts.
These 3 simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of human error, the most common entry point for cybercriminals.
Expert Insights: Vendor Presentations
The summit featured a series of expert presentations from leading cybersecurity vendors, each offering insights into their technologies and how they contribute to a layered defence strategy.
WatchGuard: Managed Firewalls
Charlotte Steed from WatchGuard introduced their managed firewall solutions, which offer real-time protection through services like Intrusion Prevention, Gateway Antivirus, and Reputation Enabled Defence. WatchGuard’s appliances conduct over a billion security scans per hour and are deployed globally every four minutes.
Their Total Security Services include advanced features like APT Blocker, ThreatSync XDR, and IntelligentAV, which use AI to predict and prevent future attacks. These tools form the first line of defence; locking the doors and windows of your digital infrastructure.
ThreatLocker: Zero Trust Endpoint Protection
Seamus Lennon, stepping in remotely for Sean Whelan, explained ThreatLocker’s zero-trust approach. This model assumes that no user or device is inherently trustworthy and enforces strict access controls to minimise risk. It’s a proactive stance that limits the surface area available for attackers.
Huntress: EDR and ITDR Technologies
Alex Hitchen from Huntress showcased their Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) solutions. Huntress monitors over 3.6 million endpoints and 1.8 million identities, offering 24/7 protection through a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC).
Key features include:
- Ransomware Canaries: Early warning systems for ransomware activity.
- Credential Theft Detection: Monitoring for suspicious login attempts and session hijacking.
- Shadow Workflow Monitoring: Identifying malicious inbox rules and rogue applications.
Huntress boasts one of the fastest mean-time-to-response (MTTR) rates in the industry—just 8 minutes on average, with 97% of alerts resolved within 30 minutes.
Cyberlab: Cyber Essentials Certification
Finally, Rob Jackson from Cyberlab discussed the importance of Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications. These UK government-backed schemes help businesses demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity and unlock benefits such as:
- £25,000 in cyber insurance
- Access to government contracts
- Enhanced data protection and GDPR compliance
- Bluecube offers free Cyber Essentials certification for the first year to any new clients or existing clients moving their IT to Bluecube. We make it easy for your business to get started on its own cybersecurity journey, offer terms apply.
Bluecube’s Security Packages: Affordable Protection
To make cybersecurity accessible, Bluecube introduced three security packages:
| Package | Protection Level | Description | Products Included |
| Legionnaire | Entry-Level | 24/7 & 365 SOC Monitored: Zero Trust protection from ThreatLocker with Huntress EDR | ThreatLocker, Huntress EDR, Windows Defender |
| Centurion | Mid-Tier | 24/7 & 365 SOC Monitored: Includes ITDR for identity protection | ThreatLocker, Huntress EDR, Huntress ITDR, Windows Defender |
| Praetorian | Premium-Tier | Adds Sophos advanced email security | ThreatLocker, Huntress EDR, Huntress ITDR, Windows Defender, Sophos Email Security |
These packages start at under £9 per month, offering scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes.
A Collaborative Effort
The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, giving attendees the chance to engage directly with the speakers. Questions ranged from technical clarifications to implementation strategies, reflecting the audience’s keen interest in taking actionable steps.
Paul Reames closed the summit with his thanks to the speakers, staff at the Charlotte House Hotel and attendees. He reiterated Bluecube’s commitment to offering free IT audits and ongoing support, inviting businesses to join their journey toward a more secure digital future.
Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
The first Bluecube Cyber Security Breakfast Summit was more than just a networking event, it was a wake-up call for businesses. Cyber threats are evolving, and businesses must evolve with them. Whether you’re a small charity, a mid-sized retailer, or a large enterprise, the message is clear: cybersecurity is not optional.
As Bluecube’s Sales Director, Jack Waby aptly put it, “Ransomware and cyber-attacks are not an IT problem, they are a business continuity crisis and the cost of inaction far outweighs the investment in proactive measures”.
Bluecube’s layered approach – Protect, Detect, Contain—offers a roadmap for businesses to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape. With expert partners, affordable packages, and a commitment to education, Bluecube is helping UK businesses lock their digital doors and bolt them twice.
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