One compromised email account can become a company-wide problem before anyone notices.
A finance manager signs in to a convincing Microsoft 365 page on the way into Birmingham. The page is fake, but the login works well enough to steal their details. The attacker enters the real mailbox, creates a hidden forwarding rule and waits. Two days later, they change the bank details in a live supplier conversation.
Nothing dramatic appears on screen. There is no flashing warning and no obvious “hack”. Yet the business may now be dealing with a fraudulent payment, exposed client information, locked accounts, emergency password resets and days of checking every recent email and invoice.
At Computercentric, we provide cyber security services in Birmingham for small businesses and growing SMEs that need practical protection without building a full internal security team. We help secure Microsoft 365, email, laptops, servers, networks, remote access and backups, then keep those controls properly configured as your business changes.
We are based just outside Birmingham, and support organisations across the city and the wider West Midlands. Our work combines cyber security with the managed IT support, device management and recovery planning needed to make that protection work day to day.
Call us on 01922 830000 to discuss your current setup, a security concern or the next steps for your Birmingham business.
Practical cyber security support for Birmingham businesses
The latest UK Government Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that 43% of businesses experienced a cyber breach or attack during 2025/26. That figure rose to 65% among medium-sized businesses. Phishing remained the most common route in, affecting 38% of businesses.
Those figures matter, but the operational impact is easier to understand.
For a law firm or accountancy practice in the Jewellery Quarter, one compromised mailbox can expose confidential client conversations or redirect a payment. For a manufacturer near Aston or Tyseley, ransomware can interrupt production planning, stock systems, supplier communication and despatch. For a hospitality business in the city centre, an outage can affect bookings, card payments, email and access to back-office systems at the same time.
Cyber security is not only about stopping someone from “getting into the network”. It is about protecting the work your business needs to complete today:
- Sending and receiving trusted email
- Accessing Microsoft 365, SharePoint and OneDrive
- Paying staff and suppliers safely
- Keeping customer and employee data private
- Running booking, finance, production or warehouse systems
- Recovering files and systems without rebuilding everything
- Proving to clients, insurers and supply-chain partners that sensible controls are in place
A good security setup should reduce risk without making ordinary work painfully difficult. That balance is where many small businesses need help.
Where small business cyber risk usually starts
Most incidents do not begin with an attacker breaking through an imaginary wall around the office. They begin with an ordinary weakness that has been left open for too long.
It may be a reused password, a Microsoft 365 account without multi-factor authentication, a laptop that has missed security updates, an old administrator account, a leaver who still has access, or a backup that has never been tested.
Hybrid working adds more places to protect. Staff now sign in from home broadband, shared workspaces, hotels, customer sites and public networks. The office firewall cannot protect every login, device and cloud session once work has moved beyond the building.
Common gaps include:
- Multi-factor authentication enabled for some users but not all
- Personal or unmanaged devices accessing company information
- Staff holding more access than their role requires
- Weak email filtering and no protection against malicious links
- No clear process for joiners, movers and leavers
- Backups that are connected to the same systems they are meant to recover
- Security alerts being generated but nobody responsible for reviewing them
Our job is to find the gaps that create real business risk, explain them clearly and fix them in a sensible order.
Managed cyber security services we provide
Our managed cyber security services are designed around the way SMEs actually operate. We do not start with a long list of products. We start with your users, devices, systems, data and the work that cannot afford to stop.
Phishing prevention and email security
Email remains one of the easiest ways into a business because attackers can target people rather than technology.
We help reduce that risk through stronger email filtering, protection against malicious links and attachments, safer Microsoft 365 configuration, domain and account controls, multi-factor authentication and practical guidance for staff.
We also look beyond the inbox. A compromised account may create forwarding rules, send messages internally, access OneDrive files or impersonate a senior colleague. Good email security needs to protect the identity behind the mailbox as well as the message itself.
Microsoft 365 and cloud account protection
Microsoft 365 can provide strong security controls, but only when the tenant, licences, accounts and devices are configured properly.
We can help with:
- Multi-factor authentication
- Conditional access policies
- Microsoft Entra ID account and access controls
- Microsoft Intune device management
- Microsoft Defender security tools
- Safer administrator accounts
- Joiner, mover and leaver processes
- SharePoint and OneDrive permissions
- Sign-in monitoring and suspicious account activity
- Secure access for remote and hybrid workers
For businesses using Microsoft 365 Business Premium, tools such as Entra ID, Intune, Defender for Business and Defender for Office 365 can provide a strong foundation. Owning the licence is not the same as using it well. We help turn the available features into working controls.
Ransomware protection and endpoint security
Ransomware can start with a phishing email, a stolen login, an exposed remote service or an unpatched device. Once inside, the attacker may encrypt files, steal data or disable the systems needed for recovery.
We protect laptops, desktops and servers through business-grade endpoint protection, patching, controlled administrator access, device monitoring and sensible security policies. Where appropriate, endpoint detection and response tools can identify suspicious behaviour and help isolate an affected device before the problem spreads.
Think of traditional antivirus as checking a name against a watchlist. Endpoint detection and response watches what is actually happening. If a device suddenly begins encrypting hundreds of files or running an unusual chain of commands, that behaviour can be investigated even when the threat is new.
Firewall, network and remote access security
A business firewall is more than a replacement for the router supplied with an internet connection. It controls traffic, separates systems and helps restrict which services can be reached from outside.
We can review and improve:
- Business firewalls and secure configuration
- Office and warehouse networks
- Staff and guest WiFi separation
- Remote access and VPNs
- Site-to-site connections
- Network segmentation
- Router, firewall and wireless access point updates
- Access for third-party suppliers
- Connectivity resilience where operations depend on cloud systems
This is particularly important for multi-site businesses, warehouses, hospitality venues and organisations that have added network equipment gradually without a clear design.
Vulnerability assessments and security reviews
You cannot fix what you do not know is there.
We review devices, accounts, software, internet-facing services, Microsoft 365 settings, access rights, backups and network controls to identify weaknesses that could be used in an attack.
Our approach to cyber security audit services is practical. We separate urgent exposure from lower-priority improvements, explain the likely impact and give you a clear plan rather than a report that sits unread.
Where deeper specialist testing is needed, we will explain the scope and the right route before work begins.
Cyber security monitoring services and alert review
Security tools can produce a lot of noise. The value comes from knowing which alerts matter and what should happen next.
Our cyber security monitoring services help businesses keep track of device health, security events, suspicious activity, patching and other warning signs. We can investigate issues, take agreed action and help prevent the same problem from returning.
The exact monitoring approach depends on your systems, licences and risk. We will not describe a basic antivirus alert as a full Security Operations Centre. You will know what is being monitored, who is responsible and how incidents are handled.
Backup, disaster recovery and incident response
Protection is incomplete without recovery.
A firewall cannot prevent every mistake. Multi-factor authentication cannot stop every attack. When something does get through, clean and tested backups can make the difference between a controlled recovery and a prolonged shutdown.
We help Birmingham businesses plan for:
- Cloud and on-site backups
- Microsoft 365 data protection
- Separate and protected backup copies
- Recovery priorities for critical systems
- Recovery time and recovery point requirements
- Regular restore testing
- Business continuity planning
- Clear actions after a suspected incident
Our business continuity and disaster recovery guidance explains why having a backup is only the start. You also need to know that it can be restored, how long recovery should take and which systems must come back first.
If a suspected breach involves personal data, the business must also assess its reporting duties quickly. A reportable personal data breach normally needs to be notified to the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of it. We can help secure and document the technical side of the incident, while legal and regulatory decisions remain with your organisation and its advisers.
Cyber security awareness training
Staff should not be treated as the problem. They are part of the defence, but they need useful guidance.
Generic annual training is easy to click through and forget. We focus on the situations people face at work: unexpected Microsoft 365 prompts, changed bank details, fake shared documents, urgent requests from senior staff, password reset messages and suspicious calls.
Awareness should also support a no-blame reporting culture. The sooner a user tells someone they clicked a link or entered a password, the more chance there is to contain the problem.
Cyber Essentials readiness and compliance support
Cyber Essentials is the UK Government-backed baseline for protection against common internet-based attacks. Its five control areas cover firewalls, secure configuration, security updates, user access and malware protection.
The requirements were tightened in April 2026, including clearer expectations around multi-factor authentication for cloud services and timely installation of high-risk or critical security updates.
We can help you review the technical controls, identify gaps and prepare your environment before assessment. Certification itself must be completed through an authorised Cyber Essentials certification body.
Our cyber security compliance services focus on the systems and evidence behind the requirement. We do not present technical support as legal advice, and we will be clear where an independent assessor, data protection specialist or legal adviser is needed.
Cyber security consulting services and ongoing advice
Security is not a one-off installation. Staff join and leave, new cloud services are adopted, suppliers gain access, offices move and devices age.
Our cyber security consulting services help owners, managers and internal IT contacts make better decisions as the business changes. That may include planning a Microsoft 365 security improvement, reviewing remote access, preparing for a customer questionnaire, setting priorities after an audit or building a longer-term security plan.
For wider technology decisions beyond security, our IT consultancy in Birmingham service can help you plan upgrades, review suppliers, manage IT projects and build a practical roadmap for your systems.
The advice stays tied to your business. We explain what needs to change, why it matters and what can reasonably wait.
Microsoft 365 security for hybrid Birmingham teams
For many Birmingham SMEs, Microsoft 365 has become the office. Email, meetings, documents, approvals and client communication all pass through the same cloud environment.
That makes identity the new front door.
Multi-factor authentication and conditional access
Multi-factor authentication asks for more than a password. Conditional access adds context to the decision.
A useful way to picture it is a staffed reception desk. A known employee using a managed company laptop in their normal location may pass through as expected. The same account signing in from an unfamiliar device or risky location can be challenged, restricted or blocked.
The aim is not to make every login difficult. It is to add friction when the situation looks wrong.
Device management with Microsoft Intune
Intune gives the business a clearer view of the devices accessing company information. It can help apply security settings, require encryption, control applications and check whether a device meets the agreed standard before it connects.
This matters when staff work from home or move between offices. Security should follow the account and device, rather than disappear when someone leaves the building.
Endpoint protection with Microsoft Defender
Endpoint protection watches laptops, desktops and servers for malicious files and suspicious behaviour. Depending on the licence and setup, Microsoft Defender tools can help protect devices, email, links and attachments.
The tools still need policies, alerts and ownership. Buying Microsoft 365 Business Premium does not automatically create a managed security service. We configure the controls, connect them to the rest of your setup and make sure someone knows what to do when they raise an alert.
Zero Trust without the jargon
Zero Trust does not mean distrusting your staff. It means not granting permanent access simply because a user or device was trusted once.
Each request should prove enough about the person, the device and the context. Users should receive the access they need for their role, not broad access “just in case”.
For an SME, this can be applied through sensible steps: MFA, compliant devices, separate administrator accounts, restricted permissions, secure remote access and regular access reviews.
Cyber security for small businesses, not enterprise tick-boxes
Most SMEs do not need a huge internal security department, a wall of dashboards or a collection of tools nobody has time to manage.
They need the basics done properly:
- Every important account protected with strong authentication
- Devices known, updated, encrypted and monitored
- Email protected against common attack routes
- Administrator access limited and controlled
- Backups separated, tested and ready to restore
- Staff who know how and where to report something suspicious
- A clear response plan with named responsibilities
- Regular reviews as the business changes
That is the foundation of good small business cyber security. It should reduce the likelihood of an incident, limit the damage if one happens and help the business recover without weeks of rebuilding.
Our outsourced cyber security services give Birmingham SMEs access to practical security expertise alongside everyday IT management. You retain business ownership of risk and decisions; we provide the technical support, monitoring and advice needed to act on them.
For clients already using our IT support in Birmingham, cyber security can be managed as part of the same environment rather than split between unrelated providers. We understand the devices, users, networks, Microsoft 365 setup and backup systems that the controls need to protect.
Managed IT services across the West Midlands & Staffordshire
We support small businesses and SMEs in each of the areas below — delivering the same structured, proactive IT service to every client, locally.
Birmingham
- Managed IT support
- Cybersecurity & EDR
- Cloud & Microsoft 365
Walsall
- Managed IT support
- Backup & disaster recovery
- Proactive monitoring
Wolverhampton
- Managed IT support
- Cybersecurity & compliance
- Network management
Sutton Coldfield
- Managed IT support
- Microsoft 365 management
- Business continuity
Lichfield
- Managed IT support
- Cybersecurity & EDR
- Backup & recovery
Aldridge
- Managed IT support
- Cloud services & hosting
- IT consultancy
Bournville
- Managed IT support
- Endpoint protection
- Business continuity
Cyber security for Birmingham’s real business needs
Birmingham’s economy brings together professional services, manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, retail, education, healthcare and fast-growing small businesses. Across the different sectors we work with, the risks are not identical.
Professional services and finance
Law firms, insurance brokers, recruitment agencies and financial advisers depend on trusted email conversations and access to confidential records. For accountants, IT support for accountancy practices needs to protect client financial records, payroll data, tax files, accounting software and email approvals without slowing down day-to-day work.
The main concern is often not a dramatic system attack. It is one genuine mailbox being used inside a live client or supplier conversation. Strong identity controls, email protection, payment verification processes, restricted access and reliable audit trails all matter.
Manufacturing, engineering and logistics
Businesses around Aston, Tyseley, the A38 and the wider M6 corridor depend on production systems, warehouse platforms, remote access, supplier portals and stable connectivity.
A cyber incident can move quickly beyond the office. It can delay despatch, stop labels printing, interrupt purchasing or prevent staff from accessing the systems that tell them what to make and where to send it.
Network separation, controlled third-party access, patching, protected backups and a realistic recovery plan are central to reducing that risk.
Hospitality and retail
Restaurants, hotels, venues and retailers rely on booking platforms, point-of-sale systems, card terminals, WiFi, email and cloud-based back-office tools.
Guest WiFi should be separated from business systems. Shared devices need controlled accounts. Leavers should lose access promptly. Payment, booking and customer information needs protection without slowing down a busy service environment.
Education, training and care
Training providers, education organisations, healthcare businesses and care services handle personal information across many users and devices.
They need clear access controls, managed endpoints, safe file sharing, reliable backups and processes that protect information when staff work across sites or from home.
Our cyber security process
We keep the work clear and proportionate. You should understand what is changing and why.
1. Review the current setup
We look at your users, devices, Microsoft 365 environment, email, network, remote access, backups and existing security tools.
We also ask what matters operationally. A vulnerability affecting an unused test system is not the same as a weakness in the platform that runs payroll or despatch.
2. Prioritise the real risks
We separate urgent exposure from longer-term improvement.
You receive clear recommendations, including what should happen first, what the likely impact is and where existing licences or tools can be used better before anything new is purchased.
3. Put the controls in place
We configure the agreed protection around accounts, devices, email, networks, updates, backups and access.
We plan changes around your staff and working hours so that better security does not arrive as an unexplained block on Monday morning.
4. Test recovery and response
We check that backups can be restored and help define what should happen after a suspicious login, phishing incident, lost device, malware alert or wider outage.
The right response is easier when responsibilities and escalation routes are agreed before the pressure starts.
5. Monitor and improve
Security needs to follow the business.
We review alerts, patching, devices, access and emerging risks, then adjust the setup as people, locations, suppliers and systems change.
What this looks like in practice
A compromised Microsoft 365 account
A member of staff enters their details into a fake login page. The account begins sending suspicious messages and an unfamiliar forwarding rule appears.
The priority is to contain the account, revoke active sessions, reset credentials, remove malicious rules, check recent sign-ins and messages, review affected data and understand whether other accounts or payments are at risk.
After containment, we close the gap that allowed the incident to progress, rather than simply changing the password and hoping it does not happen again.
A manufacturer with untested backups
A Birmingham manufacturer backs up its server every night, but nobody has tested a full restore recently. The same administrator account is used across several systems and older network equipment has missed updates.
We review the environment, separate privileged access, address the highest-risk updates, protect backup administration and test recovery against the systems the business needs first.
The result is not a promise that an incident can never happen. It is a much better chance of containing it and returning to work.
A professional firm preparing for Cyber Essentials
A growing firm needs Cyber Essentials for a tender. MFA is in place for Microsoft 365, but several other cloud services are not protected, some home-working devices are unmanaged and the asset list is incomplete.
We help define the scope, identify technical gaps, improve configuration and prepare the information needed before the firm submits its assessment through an authorised certification body.
Why choose Computercentric for cyber security in Birmingham?
Computercentric has supported small and medium-sized organisations across the West Midlands for more than 20 years.
That experience matters because cyber security rarely sits neatly in one product. A suspicious login may involve Microsoft 365, a laptop, email rules, user permissions, a backup and a business process at the same time. We work across the wider IT environment instead of treating security as a separate box.
Birmingham businesses choose us for:
- More than 20 years of experience supporting SMEs
- Local engineers and consultants based just outside Birmingham
- Managed IT, Microsoft 365, network, backup and security knowledge in one team
- Practical recommendations without unnecessary enterprise complexity
- Remote support combined with on-site help when physical work is needed
- Clear explanations for owners, managers and internal IT contacts
- Long-term support as systems and risks change
- Honest advice about what we can handle and where specialist input is required
You will know what the risk is, what we recommend and what happens next.
Local cyber security support across Birmingham and the West Midlands
We provide cyber security support across Birmingham, including the city centre, Digbeth, Edgbaston, the Jewellery Quarter, Aston, Harborne, Selly Oak, Moseley, Kings Heath, Erdington, Handsworth, Perry Barr, Bordesley Green, Northfield and Longbridge.
We also support businesses across Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Aldridge and the wider West Midlands.
Most security work can be completed remotely, but our local position matters when a firewall needs replacing, a network needs reviewing, devices must be collected or an incident requires someone on site.
Explore our wider IT services for Birmingham businesses or speak to us about a focused security review.
Frequently asked questions about cyber security services in Birmingham
What cyber security services do you provide in Birmingham?
We help Birmingham SMEs protect email, Microsoft 365 accounts, laptops, desktops, servers, firewalls, networks, remote access and backups.
The work can include MFA, conditional access, endpoint protection, patching, email security, device management, vulnerability reviews, monitoring, backup and recovery planning, staff awareness and Cyber Essentials readiness.
Do small businesses need managed cyber security?
Yes, if important work depends on email, cloud services, connected devices or customer data.
Small businesses may not need a full internal security team, but they still need somebody to manage accounts, updates, endpoint protection, backups, alerts and incident response. Managed cyber security gives that work clear ownership.
What is the difference between IT support and cyber security?
IT support keeps systems working and helps users solve day-to-day problems. Cyber security focuses on reducing the risk of unauthorised access, fraud, malware, data loss and disruption.
The two overlap. Patching, device management, Microsoft 365 administration, backup and user access are everyday IT tasks that also have a direct security impact. Computercentric combines both rather than leaving a gap between providers.
Can you protect our Microsoft 365 accounts and email?
Yes. We can review your Microsoft 365 setup and improve controls such as MFA, conditional access, administrator roles, device compliance, email protection, SharePoint permissions and sign-in monitoring.
The exact controls depend on your licences, devices and working practices.
Can you help protect our business from ransomware?
We reduce ransomware risk through layered protection rather than one product.
That can include patching, endpoint security, email filtering, MFA, restricted administrator access, secure remote access, network controls, protected backups, monitoring and staff guidance. We also plan recovery so the business is not relying on prevention alone.
Can you help after a phishing attack or suspected breach?
Yes. Contact us as soon as possible.
Depending on the incident, we can help contain accounts and devices, reset access, revoke sessions, check email rules and sign-ins, preserve useful information and restore affected systems. Serious incidents may also require specialist forensic, legal, insurance or regulatory support, which we will make clear.
Can you help us prepare for Cyber Essentials?
Yes. We can review the technical controls, help identify gaps and improve the systems included in your assessment scope.
Cyber Essentials certification must be completed through an authorised certification body. We can prepare your environment and support the technical work without misrepresenting ourselves as the assessor.
How much do cyber security services cost?
The cost depends on the number of users and devices, your Microsoft 365 licences, the condition of the current setup, the level of monitoring required and the services included.
We normally start by understanding the environment and the main risks. This gives you a clear scope instead of a generic package filled with tools you may not need.
Can you work with our existing IT person or provider?
Yes. We can work alongside an internal IT contact or existing support team where you need extra security knowledge, project support, monitoring or an independent review.
Responsibilities need to be clear, especially for alerts, patching, backups and incident response. We will agree those boundaries at the start.
How should we compare cyber security companies in Birmingham?
Look beyond the product list.
Ask who will manage the controls after installation, what is actually monitored, how incidents are escalated, whether backups are tested, how Microsoft 365 and devices are secured, and whether the provider understands your wider IT environment.
When comparing cyber security companies in Birmingham, also check that local claims are accurate, service responsibilities are written clearly and any certifications or partnerships can be verified.
Are backups enough to protect us from ransomware?
No. Backups are an important recovery control, but they do not stop stolen passwords, fraudulent payments, data theft or an attacker using a genuine mailbox.
Backups should sit alongside identity protection, email security, endpoint controls, patching, restricted access and an incident response plan. They should also be separated from the live environment and tested regularly.
Can cybersecurity services support remote and hybrid workers?
Yes. Our cybersecurity services for Birmingham businesses can cover company laptops, Microsoft 365 access, home workers, remote connections and staff moving between locations.
The aim is to apply consistent controls to the user and device, rather than relying only on the office network.
Do you provide cyber security compliance services?
We can support the technical measures and evidence used for Cyber Essentials, data protection, customer questionnaires and supply-chain requirements.
We do not replace a legal adviser, data protection officer or independent auditor. Where the requirement goes beyond technical implementation, we will tell you.
Protect your Birmingham business before a small gap becomes a large problem
Cybersecurity does not need to begin with a major project.
It can start with a review of Microsoft 365, a check that MFA is enforced properly, a test restore from backup or a clear answer to one important question: if a suspicious login appeared today, who would see it and what would happen next?
Computercentric provides practical cybersecurity services for Birmingham SMEs, backed by more than 20 years of experience supporting the systems businesses use every day.
Call 01922 830000 or use our contact form to discuss your current risks, a planned improvement or a suspected security issue.
