“It’s time to act. Open your eyes to the imminent risk to your economic security.”
— NCSC Annual Review 2025
A Wake-Up Call for Financial Institutions
The NCSC’s 2025 Annual Review delivers a stark warning: the UK is facing four nationally significant cyber attacks per week, with a 130% year-on-year increase in critical incidents. For the finance sector, where trust, data integrity, and operational continuity are paramount, this is more than a headline. It’s a call to action. [industrialcyber.co]
Key Threats to the Finance Sector
- Ransomware: Financially motivated attacks are surging, with threat actors targeting institutions that are most likely to pay and most vulnerable to downtime.
- Social Engineering: Attackers increasingly exploit IT helpdesks and customer service channels to gain access to sensitive systems.
- AI-Enhanced Attacks: Cybercriminals are using AI to scale phishing, reconnaissance, and post-breach exploitation.
- Supply Chain Risk: Only 14% of UK businesses reviewed supplier cyber risk last year, yet financial institutions rely heavily on third-party platforms and vendors. [natilik.com]
Why Finance Leaders Must Act
The NCSC is urging FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 leaders to treat cybersecurity as a board-level strategic issue, not just a technical concern. The financial sector faces:
- Operational disruption from ransomware and DDoS attacks
- Reputational damage from data breaches
- Regulatory scrutiny under FCA, PRA, and GDPR frameworks
- Economic risk to the UK’s financial stability
NCSC Recommendations for Financial Institutions
- Cyber Governance Training for boards and executives
- Cyber Essentials Certification for suppliers and partners
- Early Warning Services to detect threats before they escalate
- Incident Response Planning using assured providers
- Resilience Audits to ensure continuity under attack
How NexGen Cyber Supports the Finance Sector
At NexGen Cyber, we work with government and industry to strengthen the UK’s cyber resilience. For financial institutions, we offer:
- Board-Level Advisory: Translating cyber risk into business risk for executive teams
- Regulatory Alignment: Ensuring compliance with FCA, PRA, and NCSC frameworks
- Incident Response & Recovery: Rapid containment and restoration services
- Supply Chain Assurance: Evaluating and securing third-party risk
- AI Threat Readiness: Preparing for emerging threats with advanced detection and response
- Resilience Planning: Business continuity strategies tailored to financial operations
Final Thought
The NCSC’s 2025 Review is not just a report, it’s a roadmap. For the finance sector, the stakes are high and the threats are real. Cyber resilience is no longer optional, it’s essential.
NexGen Cyber is here to help financial institutions act now, protect their assets, and lead the way in securing the UK’s economic future.
