Important cyber security keywords that you need to know

Cyber security is no longer “a nice to have” for SMEs, it’s a business essential. In today’s threat landscape, cybercriminals actively target smaller organisations because they often have fewer defences in place, weaker monitoring, and limited internal IT security resources.

Recent figures show just how widespread the issue has become. 42% of small businesses in the UK have experienced a cyber attack, rising to 67% for medium-sized organisations. Even more concerning, 38% of SMEs still invest less than £100 per year on cyber security, leaving many businesses exposed to serious financial and operational risk.

The cost of these attacks is far from minor. UK SMEs collectively lose an estimated £3.4 billion annually due to cyber attacks, and once an incident occurs the impact can be devastating from data loss and downtime to reputational damage and customer loss.

With cyber threats evolving rapidly in 2026, understanding the language behind cyber security is one of the first steps towards improving protection. The challenge is that cyber security language can feel overly technical. Many businesses hear buzzwords like Zero Trust, MDR, or XDR without knowing what they actually mean or how they impact day-to-day operations.

In this blog, we break down the most common cyber security keywords, explain what they mean, and highlight the threats every business should be aware of, helping you to build a stranger foundation for a safer, more resilient organisation.

Common Cyber Security Keywords

Cyber security refers to the tools, processes and best practices used to protect systems, networks, devices and data from unauthorised access, cyber attacks and data breaches.

Below are some of the most common cyber security terms businesses should understand.

AI Phishing

A fast-growing threat where attackers use artificial intelligence to create highly convincing phishing emails, fake invoices, or impersonation messages. AI phishing is often harder to spot because it uses natural language and tailored detail.

Attack Surface

Every possible point where an attacker could attempt to gain access. This includes laptops, cloud systems, email platforms, remote access tools, physical offices, and employee devices used at home.

Attack Vector

The method used to exploit a weakness and reach your systems. Common vectors include phishing emails, compromised passwords, malicious downloads, or vulnerable software.

Bad Actor

A person or group attempting to breach systems or cause disruption. This could include hackers, organised cyber criminals, hacktivists, foreign intelligence groups, industrial competitors, or even disgruntled employees.

Business Email Compromise (BEC)

BEC is a targeted attack where criminals impersonate a director, finance team member or supplier to trick a business into transferring money or sharing sensitive information.

Conditional Access

A security control that allows or blocks logins based on risk factors such as location, device health, login behaviour, or user role. Conditional access is widely used to secure Microsoft cloud platforms.

Credential Stuffing

A method where attackers use stolen username and password combinations from previous data breaches to gain access to business accounts.

Cyber Insurance Readiness

In 2026, insurers increasingly require strong cyber controls—such as MFA, EDR, secure backups and monitoring—before they offer cover. Businesses without these controls may face higher premiums or refused policies.

Cyber Resilience

The ability to prevent cyber attacks, respond effectively, recover quickly, and continue operating with minimal disruption.

Dwell Time

The length of time an attacker remains inside your network before being detected. The longer the dwell time, the more damage an attacker can do—making fast detection essential.

Feature

An intended function of software that can sometimes be misused by attackers. Features designed to improve user experience or remote management can also create risk if not secured correctly.

Flaw

An unintentional vulnerability within a system. These can go unnoticed for long periods and are often difficult to detect without regular monitoring and patch management.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

A framework for managing user identities and controlling access to systems, applications and data. IAM plays a key role in modern cyber security, particularly in Microsoft 365 and cloud environments.

NIS2 Compliance

A growing regulatory focus impacting many UK and EU organisations. NIS2 is designed to strengthen cyber security governance, resilience planning and incident reporting—particularly across supply chains.

Perimeter

The exposed parts of your IT environment, including systems, devices and services that connect to the outside world. In 2026, the perimeter is no longer limited to the office—it includes cloud platforms, remote workers and mobile devices.

Shadow IT

Technology or software used by employees without IT approval. Shadow IT increases risk because it can introduce unmonitored apps, unsecured storage, and compliance issues.

Vulnerability

A weakness that can be exploited to gain access or cause damage. Vulnerabilities can be caused by outdated software, poor configuration, insecure remote access, or weak user credentials.

Zero Trust

A modern approach to security built around the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Zero Trust assumes no user, device or application should be trusted automatically—even if they are already inside the network.

Common Cyber Threats in 2026

There are many ways cyber criminals can gain access to confidential data. Below are some of the most common threats businesses need to be aware of.

Botnet

A network of infected devices controlled remotely by attackers. Botnets are often used to launch DDoS attacks or spread malware.

Breach

The successful intrusion into your network or systems.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)

An attack that overwhelms servers or internet-connected systems with traffic, causing downtime and disruption.

Phishing

Phishing is a method of attack where criminals send emails or messages designed to pressure users into sharing sensitive information or clicking malicious links.

Ransomware

A form of malware where attackers encrypt data or lock systems and demand payment to restore access. Many ransomware attacks now also involve threats to leak stolen data.

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)

A criminal business model where ransomware tools are sold or rented to other attackers. This has contributed to the rapid increase in ransomware incidents globally.

Scanning

Automated probing of the internet to identify weak systems, open ports, and vulnerable devices. Scanning is often the first stage of an attack.

Spear Phishing

A more targeted form of phishing aimed at specific individuals within an organisation—often directors, IT admins, or finance teams.

Supply Chain Attack

A growing threat where attackers compromise a supplier, platform, or software provider to gain access to their customers. Supply chain compromise is a major concern for businesses relying on cloud systems and third-party services.

Water Holing

A method where attackers compromise a website that a target is likely to visit. Users can unknowingly download malware simply by accessing the infected site.

Cyber Security Tools and Tactics to Strengthen Your Business

To stay protected against modern threats, businesses need layered security and a proactive approach. Below are key cyber security measures that can strengthen your organisation.

Attack Simulation

Attack simulation tools test your systems and employees against realistic cyber scenarios. This helps businesses measure security readiness and identify weaknesses before criminals do.

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)

CSPM helps identify cloud misconfigurations and security risks within platforms like Microsoft Azure or AWS. As cloud adoption grows, CSPM is becoming a vital security layer.

Dark Web Monitoring

Dark web monitoring checks whether business emails, passwords or confidential data are being traded online. Early detection allows businesses to act before an attack escalates.

Data Backup and Recovery

Backups remain one of the most important defences against ransomware, accidental deletion and system failure. In 2026, best practice is encrypted offsite backup with routine recovery testing.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP controls help prevent sensitive business data from being leaked or shared incorrectly, particularly through email, cloud storage and file sharing tools.

Employee Awareness

Even with advanced technology in place, users remain one of the biggest risk factors. Mistakes like clicking suspicious links, using weak passwords, or sharing sensitive information can lead to breaches.

Security awareness training and phishing simulations are essential in 2026.

Endpoint Security

Endpoints include laptops, desktops, mobile phones and tablets. Endpoint security helps protect these devices from ransomware, malware and unauthorised access, especially in remote and hybrid work environments.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

EDR tools detect suspicious activity on devices and help respond quickly to potential threats. This is a critical layer of protection against ransomware and modern malware attacks.

Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

XDR takes detection further by gathering threat intelligence across endpoints, email, cloud applications and network traffic—providing wider visibility and faster response.

Firewall and Network Protection

Firewalls monitor and filter network traffic, helping block malicious access. Modern firewall solutions also provide deeper visibility and stronger protection than traditional systems.

Incident Response Plan (IRP)

An incident response plan outlines what to do if an attack occurs, ensuring the business can respond quickly, reduce downtime, and recover efficiently.

Intrusion Detection and Prevention

These tools monitor activity across your environment and identify suspicious behaviour—helping stop threats before they spread.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

MDR is a managed security service that combines advanced monitoring tools with expert threat response. MDR helps detect and contain cyber threats early, reducing downtime and impact.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds an extra layer of protection beyond passwords. Even if a password is stolen, MFA helps prevent attackers from gaining access.

Password Management

Strong password policies reduce risk significantly. Password managers, complex password requirements, and access control rules help prevent account compromise.

Proactive Threat Hunting

Threat hunting is the process of actively searching for signs of compromise, rather than waiting for an alert. This approach is increasingly important in 2026 as attackers become more stealthy.

Security Operations Centre (SOC)

A SOC is a dedicated team (or managed service) responsible for monitoring systems 24/7, detecting threats, and responding to security incidents in real time.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

SIEM platforms collect and analyse logs from across your environment, helping identify suspicious behaviour and potential breaches. SIEM plays a key role in threat detection and compliance reporting.

Staying Secure in 2026 Starts with the Right Knowledge

Cyber threats continue to grow and evolve, and new terminology is introduced all the time. But understanding the language is the first step in building a stronger cyber security posture.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy. Every organisation operates differently, and without a tailored approach you may be exposed to:

• data loss
• ransomware disruption
• downtime and operational impact
• reputational damage
• compliance and regulatory risk

At Croft, we deliver managed cyber security solutions designed around your business,not generic templates. From endpoint protection and monitoring to cloud security and backup, we help organisations reduce risk and stay protected as threats evolve.

If you’d like support strengthening your cyber security in 2026, speak to our team today to discover how Croft can provide trusted, fully managed cyber security services aligned to your business needs.