The Small Business Cyber Security Guy | UK Cybersecurity for SMB & Startups
The Small Business Cyber Security Guy
42 episodes
2 days ago
The Small Business Cyber Security Guy Podcast
Practical cybersecurity advice for UK small business owners who need enterprise-level protection without enterprise-level budgets, headaches, or PhD-level jargon.
Join hosts Noel Bradford and Mauven MacLeod as they translate complex cybersecurity threats into actionable solutions that actually work for businesses with 5-50 employees. Noel brings 40+ years of enterprise experience from Intel, Disney, and the BBC, whilst Mauven adds government-level threat intelligence from her time as a UK Government Cyber Analyst. Together, they bridge the gap between knowing you need better security and actually implementing it without breaking the bank.
Why This Podcast Works:
Real experts who’ve chosen to focus on underserved small businesses
Practical advice tested in actual SMB environments
British humour that makes serious topics engaging (not intimidating)
Budget-conscious solutions that acknowledge your real constraints
Perfect For:
Business owners who believe they’re ”too small to be targeted”
Anyone who needs cybersecurity knowledge but lacks time for complex solutions
Those seeking enterprise-quality protection at corner shop prices
UK businesses (though principles apply globally)
Each episode delivers concrete, actionable advice you can implement immediately. No theoretical discussions, no vendor nonsense, no academic waffle. Just two experts who genuinely care about helping small businesses survive and thrive digitally.
Regular Features:
Current threat analysis with real-world context
Implementation guides within realistic budgets
Human factor solutions (because your biggest vulnerability makes excellent tea)
Government framework explanations that actually make sense
New episodes weekly. Subscribe now and join thousands of business owners who’ve discovered that proper cybersecurity isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies.
Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a review mentioning your biggest cybersecurity concern, and visit our blog for detailed implementation guides on everything we discuss.
Stay secure, stay practical, and remember - if your security wouldn’t survive a curious teenager with too much time, it needs work.
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The Small Business Cyber Security Guy Podcast
Practical cybersecurity advice for UK small business owners who need enterprise-level protection without enterprise-level budgets, headaches, or PhD-level jargon.
Join hosts Noel Bradford and Mauven MacLeod as they translate complex cybersecurity threats into actionable solutions that actually work for businesses with 5-50 employees. Noel brings 40+ years of enterprise experience from Intel, Disney, and the BBC, whilst Mauven adds government-level threat intelligence from her time as a UK Government Cyber Analyst. Together, they bridge the gap between knowing you need better security and actually implementing it without breaking the bank.
Why This Podcast Works:
Real experts who’ve chosen to focus on underserved small businesses
Practical advice tested in actual SMB environments
British humour that makes serious topics engaging (not intimidating)
Budget-conscious solutions that acknowledge your real constraints
Perfect For:
Business owners who believe they’re ”too small to be targeted”
Anyone who needs cybersecurity knowledge but lacks time for complex solutions
Those seeking enterprise-quality protection at corner shop prices
UK businesses (though principles apply globally)
Each episode delivers concrete, actionable advice you can implement immediately. No theoretical discussions, no vendor nonsense, no academic waffle. Just two experts who genuinely care about helping small businesses survive and thrive digitally.
Regular Features:
Current threat analysis with real-world context
Implementation guides within realistic budgets
Human factor solutions (because your biggest vulnerability makes excellent tea)
Government framework explanations that actually make sense
New episodes weekly. Subscribe now and join thousands of business owners who’ve discovered that proper cybersecurity isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies.
Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a review mentioning your biggest cybersecurity concern, and visit our blog for detailed implementation guides on everything we discuss.
Stay secure, stay practical, and remember - if your security wouldn’t survive a curious teenager with too much time, it needs work.
No More Excuses: Cyber Essentials Forces MFA on Every Cloud Service (Apr 2026)
The Small Business Cyber Security Guy | UK Cybersecurity for SMB & Startups
7 minutes
6 days ago
No More Excuses: Cyber Essentials Forces MFA on Every Cloud Service (Apr 2026)
In this episode Graham and Mauven break down a major overhaul to Cyber Essentials coming into force from April 2026. The hosts explain the headline change — mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for every cloud service with no loopholes — and how the scheme has tightened scoping so any internet-connected service or system that processes company data is now in scope.
Topics covered include the new emphasis on passwordless authentication (passkeys, FIDO2 hardware keys, and biometrics), why the NCSC is pushing these technologies, and the practical security benefits and limits of passwordless solutions. They also discuss the real-world impact on small businesses: thousands currently relying on weak passwords or shadow IT will face failed assessments, unsupported software will trigger instant fails, and many firms will need to budget for MFA where it’s not free.
Graham and Mauven share concrete, actionable advice for listeners: inventory every cloud service (including forgotten Dropbox or personal Gmail accounts used for work), involve the whole team, enable MFA everywhere possible (and budget for paid options), collect and document evidence (screenshots, logs), map networks and implement segmentation where needed, and plan early to avoid rush and audit pain.
Key takeaways: the bar is being raised to reduce simple attacks, passwordless is being validated as a practical option, expect a drop in pass rates at renewal time, and businesses should start preparing now or face chaotic assessment outcomes. Hosts: Graham Falkner and Mauven MacLeod.
The Small Business Cyber Security Guy | UK Cybersecurity for SMB & Startups
The Small Business Cyber Security Guy Podcast
Practical cybersecurity advice for UK small business owners who need enterprise-level protection without enterprise-level budgets, headaches, or PhD-level jargon.
Join hosts Noel Bradford and Mauven MacLeod as they translate complex cybersecurity threats into actionable solutions that actually work for businesses with 5-50 employees. Noel brings 40+ years of enterprise experience from Intel, Disney, and the BBC, whilst Mauven adds government-level threat intelligence from her time as a UK Government Cyber Analyst. Together, they bridge the gap between knowing you need better security and actually implementing it without breaking the bank.
Why This Podcast Works:
Real experts who’ve chosen to focus on underserved small businesses
Practical advice tested in actual SMB environments
British humour that makes serious topics engaging (not intimidating)
Budget-conscious solutions that acknowledge your real constraints
Perfect For:
Business owners who believe they’re ”too small to be targeted”
Anyone who needs cybersecurity knowledge but lacks time for complex solutions
Those seeking enterprise-quality protection at corner shop prices
UK businesses (though principles apply globally)
Each episode delivers concrete, actionable advice you can implement immediately. No theoretical discussions, no vendor nonsense, no academic waffle. Just two experts who genuinely care about helping small businesses survive and thrive digitally.
Regular Features:
Current threat analysis with real-world context
Implementation guides within realistic budgets
Human factor solutions (because your biggest vulnerability makes excellent tea)
Government framework explanations that actually make sense
New episodes weekly. Subscribe now and join thousands of business owners who’ve discovered that proper cybersecurity isn’t just for Fortune 500 companies.
Like what you hear? Subscribe, leave a review mentioning your biggest cybersecurity concern, and visit our blog for detailed implementation guides on everything we discuss.
Stay secure, stay practical, and remember - if your security wouldn’t survive a curious teenager with too much time, it needs work.
