Issue 8
Welcome back to The BUG — your trusted source for the latest in cybersecurity!
In this issue, GRC Analyst, Ciara Morgan, is back with a Q3 update on the latest threats defining the UK’s digital economy, we share some exciting news in the realm of cybersecurity awards, and we bring you fresh insights with our latest blog picks.
Wider Impact of AI on the Threat Landscape
Generative AI has transformed the digital world. Quality content can be produced in seconds; tedious customer service tasks can now be fully automated. Meanwhile, the government is turning to AI to alleviate the strain that repetitive jobs place on the public sector, such as identifying potholes in roads.
Alexander Harrison, Penetration Tester at Barrier, shares his thoughts on our blog.
Why Incident Response Needs to Be Proactive – Not Just Reactive
True Incident Response isn’t just about reacting—it’s about being ready. And the organisations that treat it as an ongoing discipline, not a one-off event, are the ones that recover faster, avoid reputational fallout, and minimise operational disruption.
Here’s why being proactive matters—and how you can shift your approach.
Senior Marketing Executive, Kathryn McMullan, shares her thoughts in our latest article.
The Cyber Threat Landscape Q3 2025: Six Threats Defining the UK’s Digital Economy
The UK is experiencing an evolving cyber threat environment, with attackers deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics against businesses, government bodies, and individuals alike. While the spectrum of risks is broad, several threats stand out as being particularly impactful in the third quarter of this year.
With these rising challenges, Ciara Morgan, GRC Analyst at Barrier, discusses her thoughts on the trends that highlight both the resilience gaps within the UK and a complex, interconnected cyber threat landscape.
Not All Incident Response Teams Are Equal: The Value of NCSC CIR Certification
When you’re dealing with a cyber incident—whether it’s ransomware, data theft, or an insider breach—you don’t have time to gamble on your response team. You need to know they’re qualified, trustworthy, and capable of handling high-pressure situations in line with national standards.
That’s why the NCSC CIR certification is such a big deal. And why Barrier’s status as a certified CIR provider offers real peace of mind to our customers.
Inside the MoD’s New Cyber Command
The UK government is learning from cyber warfare tactics in Ukraine to shore up its defences. The UK armed forces are learning from Ukraine’s progress, and the lessons have informed a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command – an initiative announced in May by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In the Government’s words, the move will give the UK “a decisive advantage through greater integration across domains, new AI and software, and better communication between our armed forces”.
So, what’s changed, what does this all mean for UK defence and security, and how should CISOs respond?
Ian McGowan, Managing Director at Barrier, shares his thoughts with Assured Intelligence.
New FBI Warning — Windows And Linux Users Must Apply 2FA Now
The FBI recommend for Windows and Linux users to urgently enable two-factor authentication, due to increased Interlock Ransomware activity targeting businesses and critical infrastructure organisations in double extortion attacks. Prevention is always better than cure, and that is no truer than when applied to the world of cybersecurity.
Steven Thomson, Senior SOC Analyst at Barrier, discusses the sophisticated cyberattack technique used by Interlock and shares insights into the evolving tactics of the threat group.
Musselburgh Ladies Day
On Friday 8th of August, Barrier hosted our second Ladies Day at Musselburgh Racecourse. We were delighted to welcome women working in cyber from across Scotland for a great mix of networking and celebration in a unique setting.
Our guests enjoyed the buzz of the races along with the chance to connect, share ideas, and strengthen professional relationships in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
A big thank you to LevelBlue and CoreView for their sponsorship, which helped make the day possible. 🥂
Portrush Golf Day
We had the pleasure of hosting an unforgettable event at The Royal Portrush Golf Club, alongside our partner, Security Scorecard. It was a day filled with great conversations, networking, and (of course) some fantastic golf. ⛳
CRN Award Finalists!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve been shortlisted as a finalist for MSP of the Year at the CRN Channel Awards! 🎉 This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our amazing team and the continued trust of our clients.
Congratulations and best of luck to all the fellow finalists. You can view the shortlist here: CRN Channel Awards 2025 - 2025 finalists
We are excited to find out the results on the 13th of November.
Wish us luck — we’ve got our fingers crossed! 🤞
Until next time,
The Barrier Team