How will this impact U.K. businesses?
Cyber threats are no longer just an IT issue, they’re a business risk, a legal liability, and a growing threat to national infrastructure. In response, the U.K. government is introducing the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSRB), a landmark piece of legislation designed to modernise outdated cyber laws and strengthen the country’s digital defences.
What Is the CSRB?
Announced in the July 2024 King’s Speech and detailed in April 2025, the CSRB is expected to be introduced to Parliament later this year. It builds on the existing Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations but significantly expands their scope and enforcement powers.
The Bill Aims To:
- Expand the scope to include more digital services and supply chain partners, such as managed service providers (MSPs), cloud platforms, and data centres.
- Mandate faster incident reporting, with expectations to notify regulators within 24–72 hours of a cyber incident.
- Align with global standards, including the EU’s NIS2 Directive and U.S. cyber legislation.
- Empower regulators with stronger enforcement tools, including audits, fines, and service suspensions.
Who Will Be Affected?
If your business:
- Provides essential services (e.g. energy, healthcare, transport),
- Supports critical infrastructure,
- Operates digital platforms or services,
- Is part of a key supply chain,
…then you’re likely to be in scope. Even small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs)s could be affected if their disruption poses upstream risks. This is likely to be a first installment which will no doubt expand to all U.K. businesses.
What Should Businesses Do to Prepare?
The government’s message is clear: don’t wait. Start preparing now to avoid scrambling when enforcement begins. Here’s how:
✅ Assess Your Security Posture
Understand where your organisation stands today. Arctic Wolf Cyber Jumpstart offers a Cyber Resilience Assessment aligned with standard cybersecurity frameworks to help you benchmark your readiness.
✅ Review Supplier Dependencies
Supply chain vulnerabilities are a major threat vector. Arctic Wolf’s Aurora™ Platform supports over 200+ integrations, allowing you to enhance protection without ripping and replacing existing tools.
✅ Update Incident Response Plans
The CSRB requires rapid and accurate incident reporting. As part of Incident360, our industry-leading incident response (IR) retainer, Arctic Wolf offers an IR planner which helps you build robust, compliant response frameworks.
✅ Raise Board-Level Awareness
Cybersecurity is a boardroom issue. Depending on the retainer you purchase, Arctic Wolf’s experienced IR team can run a tabletop exercise with your organization to educate leadership and simulate real-world scenarios, ensuring executive teams are prepared.
How Can Arctic Wolf Help?
Arctic Wolf is uniquely positioned to support businesses through this transition:
- Arctic Wolf Cyber Jumpstart: Access assessments and planning tools tailored to CSRB requirements.
- Arctic Wolf Aurora™ Platform: An industry-leading open-XDR platform that powers Arctic Wolf® Managed Detection and Response and Aurora Endpoint Security, helping your organization collect, enrich, and analyse vital security data at scale.
- Arctic Wolf® Incident Response: Prepare your teams with expert-led exercises and response planning.
- Board Engagement: Elevate cybersecurity to a strategic priority with executive-level training and insights.
Final Thoughts
The CSRB isn’t just another compliance checkbox, it’s a wake-up call. The U.K. is shifting from encouraging best practices to enforcing them, and businesses that act now will be better positioned to thrive in this new regulatory landscape.
