In a chilling example of how a single vulnerability can bring down an entire enterprise, the 158-year-old logistics firm KNP, known for its Knights of Old fleet, collapsed in 2023 after a ransomware gang exploited a weak employee password. The result? Systems frozen, data lost, and 700 employees left jobless.
This wasn’t just a digital hiccup. It was economic devastation driven by a cybercrime epidemic that is growing faster than the UK’s ability to contain it.
KNP’s case is emblematic of a growing cyber plague gripping British businesses. Despite insurance and industry-standard IT measures, the hackers—linked to the Akira ransomware gang—were able to penetrate, encrypt, and extort. The estimated ransom? £5 million. The cost of not paying? Total collapse.
The Alarming Cyber Landscape in the UK
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, now deals with a major attack every single day. As ransomware attacks surge—estimated at 19,000 in the UK last year—the scale of this digital crimewave is staggering. From retail giants like M&S and Harrods to public infrastructure and small businesses, no sector is immune.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirms that these incidents have nearly doubled in two years, now reaching 35–40 per week. What’s more concerning is the evolving nature of the threat: many attacks no longer require sophisticated hacking skills. Instead, criminals “blag” access via trickery, exploiting helpdesks or careless password practices.
As James Babbage of the NCA warns, we are now witnessing a new generation of cybercriminals, many groomed by the online gaming culture, who use easily purchased dark web ransomware kits to wreak havoc.
Digital Fragility: A Threat to Climate Resilience?
But beyond data and payrolls lies a more unexpected victim: climate resilience.
The UK’s journey to net-zero and climate adaptability hinges on digital infrastructure—smart grids, electric vehicle charging systems, AI-powered flood prediction models, and environmental monitoring platforms. If these systems fall victim to cyberattacks, the consequences would ripple far beyond economics into ecological disaster.
Imagine ransomware shutting down the data systems that predict coastal flooding, or freezing access to emergency services during a climate-induced heatwave. As we digitise our climate response, cyber vulnerabilities pose a silent but potent threat.
Why Britain Needs a “Cyber MOT”
Paul Abbott, the former KNP director, now advocates for a nationwide “cyber-MOT”—a mandatory, regulated cybersecurity check for businesses, much like a vehicle inspection. The idea has merit. If cybersecurity is a matter of national resilience, should it really be optional?
The proposed government ban on public institutions paying ransoms and possible mandatory reporting for private companies are steps in the right direction. But enforcement is inconsistent, and too many businesses quietly pay to make it go away—only fuelling the criminal ecosystem.
A National Strategy Needed
Insurance alone won’t cut it. Cybersecurity must become a foundational pillar of UK business—woven into procurement, governance, and supply chain management. Training, zero-trust policies, encrypted backups, and multi-factor authentication are no longer optional—they are survival essentials.
Equally, there must be transparency. If companies are compromised, they should be compelled to disclose it—just as with a data breach—so that others can learn and adapt. Silence only emboldens attackers.
Cybercrime Is a Climate Issue Too
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem. It is a national security concern, a business continuity challenge, and—most critically—a climate adaptation issue.
The digital foundations of our green future must be as resilient as the infrastructure they support. Otherwise, all it may take is one weak password to undo decades of progress.
