It is difficult to overemphasise the importance of cyber security for SMEs in the current business climate.
The Government’s recently published Cyber Security Breaches Survey for 2025/26 found that an alarming 43% of UK businesses had identified a cyber breach or attack in the previous 12 months. Perhaps more worryingly, only 25% of all UK businesses have a formal incident response plan for them in place.
With potential disruptions to operations, revenue and overall business reputation and trust, it is vital that this issue is high on everybody’s agenda for 2026.
The specific threat to Jersey
Jersey has a distinct cyber risk profile. As an island jurisdiction, it manages its own essential infrastructure and public services with an economy that is highly dependent on trust, particularly in financial services, professional services and all organisations that handle sensitive data.
A serious cyber incident in Jersey can therefore do more than disrupt one company. It can affect customers, public confidence, supply chains, service delivery and the island’s wider reputation as a secure and reliable place to do business.
The Cyber Security (Jersey) Law
2026 marks an important new phase for cyber security on the island to combat these threats. The new Cyber Security (Jersey) Law was approved by the States Assembly in January to provide a formal new framework and practical focus to follow.
It marks a clear shift from a guidance-based approach to mandatory legal duties for organisations that are deemed critical to Jersey’s functions. These Operators of Essential Services are organisations carrying out work essential to the daily life, economy, infrastructure and reputation of the island through sectors such as:
- Energy & Utilities
- Healthcare
- Transport
- Telecommunications
- Food Supply
- Financial Services
- Public Administration & Communication
Understanding the new law
The ultimate goal of the new law is to increase resilience for Jersey against major data breaches and attacks through common tactics like phishing, ransomware and the exploitation of any supply chain vulnerabilities.
It achieves three important aims:
- Presents the Jersey Cyber Security Centre as the recognised cyber security authority for Jersey
- Sets clearer expectations about cyber hygiene, incident preparation and reporting
- Introduces specific legal duties for Operators of Essential Services
Prepare, protect & respond
The reality of cyberattacks in 2026 suggest it is no longer a question of if, but when a business will be targeted. Therefore, they must be able to show how well they can continue operations, protect users and recover as quickly as possible when it happens.
Operators of Essential Services have to demonstrate that a business can effectively identify threats and prepare for them before they happen, while minimising the potential risks of any impact.
All of which is built around the Five Pillars of Cyber Health that Cyber Tec are continually advocating for organisations of any size:
- Preparation
- Protection
- Detection
- Response
- Recovery
These pillars highlight exactly how a successful cyber security strategy is much more of a business continuity issue than an isolated IT concern. Although the new law is positioned for Operators of Essential Services, it is clear that the same thinking is useful for every organisation.
The 24-hour reporting requirement
One of the clearest practical changes is around incident reporting. Operators of Essential Services will need to notify the Jersey Cyber Security Centre no later than 24 hours after becoming aware of a cyber incident that is likely to have a significant impact on the continuity of an essential service.
When assessing incident significance, the law points to practical factors such as:
- The number of users affected
- How long the incident lasts
- The geographical area affected
As anybody that has experienced a serious cyber incident will tell you, the first 24 hours are rarely calm. Systems may be down and customers may need answers. If roles, responsibilities, reporting routes and recovery plans have not been agreed in advance, valuable time can be lost.
What does this mean for your business?
Most SMEs in Jersey will not automatically fall directly under the new law. However, many may still feel its effects. Larger organisations and regulated businesses are likely to ask more searching questions of their suppliers.
As an example, if a company provides services to finance, healthcare, telecoms, government, utilities, or other critical sectors, it may increasingly be expected to show that it takes cyber security seriously with evidence required.
That means questions about:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Staff access
- Backups
- Incident response
- Supply Chain Management
Essentially, everybody in the chain needs stronger assurances that their people, processes and data are not at risk.
Good cyber health for all
The best cyber security comes from getting the basics right.
Start With Access control
Knowing who has access to email, cloud platforms, finance systems, customer data and critical applications is the strongest foundation.
Strong Email Security
Phishing remains the most common route into a business. Adopt a culture of awareness supported by strong passwords with clear rules for any suspicious requests
Backups
Businesses must know what is backed up, where it is stored and whether it can actually be restored.
Incident Response
Understand who is making decisions, contacting customers, speaking to insurers and leading recovery when an incident strikes.
Supplier Risk
Document who can access all systems and data. How would you be notified if a supplier suffered an incident?
The Cyber Tec View
Cyber security does not need to be overwhelming. But it does need to be active, documented and reviewed. The rollout of the new Cyber Security (Jersey) Law is the perfect time to conduct a practical cyber resilience review and a full view of any exposure and vulnerabilities.
This simple process could save headaches, time, money and brand reputation issues in the future. And more protection for every business in Jersey at an individual level makes for stronger cyber security across the island’s critical infrastructure as a whole.
Cyber Tec Security is one of the UK and Channel Islands’ leading Cyber certification bodies, IASME-accredited and NCSC backed. Certifications such as Cyber Essentials and IASME Cyber Assurance won’t meet every requirement of the new Cyber Security (Jersey) Law, but they provide a strong, independently verified foundation for the technical controls and governance expected of resilient businesses.
For Jersey organisations wondering where to start, a free 20-minute readiness conversation with Cyber Tec Security will give you a clear view of where you stand and what to do next. Contact our team to arrange a convenient time to talk.
