Cyber Brief: Ransomware, UK security and supply chain risks

Over the weekend and into today, three major cyber developments demand attention: the timing of ransomware attacks, UK regulatory pressure on economic security and persistent weaknesses in threat intelligence among supply-chain organisations. Each underscores an aspect of risk that is often overlooked until it’s too late.

Ransomware attacks peak during holidays and weekend periods

A recent global study reveals that the majority of ransomware incidents are strategically timed to coincide with holidays, weekends and major corporate events when security operations are typically reduced. In many organisations, security operations centre (SOC) staffing drops significantly over such periods—78 % of organisations reportedly reduce staff by half, and 6 % have no coverage at all during non-business hours. Attackers exploit this window to maximise impact and minimise detection.

Why it matters
For organisations operating in the UK and globally, this finding emphasises the need to maintain heightened readiness during off-peak times. Reduced staffing or lower vigilance can become a tactical advantage for attackers. Ensuring 24/7 visibility, clear escalation protocols and simulated drills for non-standard hours will reduce exposure during these vulnerable periods.

Source
IT Brief

UK’s economic security regime flagged as weak point in the West

A UK parliamentary committee has issued a report stating that the country’s economic security framework is “not fit for the future” and risks becoming a weak link in Western security strategy. The report calls for the introduction of an Economic Security Bill, appointment of a dedicated Economic Security Minister and establishment of an Office for Economic Security to coordinate policy and intelligence functions.

Why it matters
Cyber resilience now intersects with national economic security. For UK businesses, this implies increasing regulatory scrutiny, supply-chain risk expectations and potential obligations that extend beyond traditional IT-security domains. Organisations must prepare for broader governance, cross-department interaction and deeper alignment between cyber, trade, and national security teams.

Source
UK Parliament report / Business & Trade Committee

Threat intelligence gaps hamper supply-chain resilience in critical infrastructure

In the wake of a cyber incident involving a major UK digital-services provider servicing critical national infrastructure, a specialist industry commentary highlighted that many organisations continue to struggle with threat-intelligence maturity. Only 20 % of IT professionals believe their threat-intelligence programmes are fully operationalised. Key challenges include siloed intelligence functions, lack of sharing across supply-chains, and limited automation in triage and response workflows.

Why it matters
When supply-chain dependencies are involved, the weakest partner often becomes the entry point for threats. Organisations in the UK must ensure that suppliers and service providers have effective threat-intelligence integration, are able to share timely information and have the automation and playbooks required to act swiftly. Gap closure here can significantly reduce cascading risks.

Source
IT Brief guest commentary

Today’s Key Actions

1. Review SOC staffing and escalation protocols for weekends, holidays and periods of low cover.
2. Map organisational exposure to wider economic-security regulation and adjust governance accordingly.
3. Audit supply-chain and third-party service providers on threat-intelligence maturity, automation and sharing protocols.
4. Simulate incident scenarios timed for off-hours and validate readiness.
5. Elevate board awareness: include supply-chain intelligence, staffing-resilience and economic-security implications in reporting.

Secarma Insight

The weekend’s developments remind us that cyber risk is not just about exotic malware or high-profile breaches - it is also about timing, context and ecosystem weakness. Organisations that prepare only during “normal hours” or within conventional IT governance are leaving sizable gaps. At Secarma we emphasise resilience built on continuity, intelligence-driven response and supplier vigilance. If you’d like to discuss how to stress-test your weekend-coverage readiness or assess your supply-chain intelligence posture - reach out to us at actnow@secarma.com.