Cybersecurity in 2025: What the UK’s New Bill and the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act Mean for Your Business

Cybersecurity used to be the kind of topic that only IT teams worried about; today, it’s front-page news. From ransomware shutting down hospitals to hackers targeting supply chains, digital threats affect everyone. Governments have realised that voluntary guidelines aren’t enough, so they’re bringing in laws to raise the bar for businesses.

In 2025, two big developments stand out: the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and the European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Both are game-changers, but in slightly different ways. If you’re a business in the UK or one that trades with Europe, these frameworks could change how you operate, design products, and manage cyber risks.

Let’s break down what they are, why they exist, and what you need to do to stay ahead.

Why Governments Are Taking Action

The backdrop to these laws is simple: cyber threats are growing faster than most organisations can defend against.

• The UK government estimated that cybercrime costs the economy billions each year, with ransomware and supply chain attacks topping the list.
• Across Europe, connected devices, smart appliances, and cloud platforms have created millions of new entry points for attackers.
• High-profile breaches, from NHS supplier hacks to global data leaks have shown that weak links in one company can ripple across entire industries.

In short, cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting your own systems anymore. It’s about protecting the wider digital ecosystem. That’s why regulators are pushing for tougher rules.

The UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (2025)

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill UK is currently making its way through Parliament and is expected to take effect in late 2025 or early 2026. This legislation builds on the NIS Regulations 2018 but recognises that the landscape has changed dramatically. Originally, only operators of essential services like energy, transport, and healthcare were included. Now, the Bill widens the scope, recognising that the supply chain and service providers are just as critical.

Key features

• Broader scope
  The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 2025 will apply to managed service providers (MSPs), data centres, and other companies that underpin the delivery of critical services. For example, if your business provides IT infrastructure for a hospital or cloud hosting for a utility, you may now fall under regulation.
• Stronger enforcement powers
  Regulators will gain the ability to recover oversight costs and investigate vulnerabilities more proactively.
• Expanded reporting requirements
  Organisations will need to report a wider range of incidents, from ransomware to actively exploited vulnerabilities.
• Flexible framework
  A major change in the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill timeline is the flexibility it grants. The Secretary of State will be able to bring new sectors into scope without needing a brand-new law.

Why this matters for UK businesses? 

For MSPs, data centres, and suppliers, the UK’s new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill isn’t just another regulation, it’s a wake-up call. Non-compliance won’t just risk fines. It could damage relationships with clients who depend on you for resilience and trust.

The EU’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)

While the UK bill focuses on critical services, the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) in Europe takes a wider approach. It applies to products with digital elements, from software platforms to smart devices, ensuring they are secure throughout their lifecycle.

Key features

• Secure by design
  Security must be embedded from day one, not bolted on later.
• Lifecycle responsibility
  Manufacturers must provide updates, patches, and vulnerability management throughout a product’s lifespan.
• Risk-based classification
  Products will be labelled as default, important, or critical, with high-risk ones requiring independent assessments.
• Transparency and disclosure
  Clear vulnerability disclosure policies, security advisories, and Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) will become standard.

Why this matters for UK businesses? 

If your company sells products or services into Europe, you’ll need to meet CRA requirements, even if you’re based in Britain. That means stronger documentation, vulnerability management, and proof of compliance.

What Both Laws Mean in Practice

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill UK and the EU CRA may differ in scope, but both push businesses towards the same principle: cyber resilience as a cultural norm.

• IT service providers will need to formalise governance and reporting.
• Developers must ensure products are secure by design and supported long after launch.
• Boards will need to treat cyber risk as seriously as financial or operational risks.

Think of it as the evolution of GDPR for security. Just as data protection became non-negotiable, cybersecurity is now moving into the same space.

Preparing for What’s Ahead

Even though the UK Bill is still in Parliament, waiting until it becomes law could leave you scrambling. Here’s how to stay ahead of the curve:

• Understand your exposure
  Map whether your business will be affected by the UK Bill, the EU CRA, or both.
• Improve incident reporting
  Build clear processes for identifying and reporting incidents, both internally and externally.
• Embed secure practices
  Adopt secure-by-design principles across products, services, and operations.
• Involve leadership
  Cyber resilience isn’t just for IT, it should be part of board-level discussions.
• Monitor developments
  Follow the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill timeline closely. Its scope can expand quickly, pulling in sectors that may not expect to be regulated.

Thoughts

The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 2024–2025 and the EU Cyber Resilience Act mark the start of a new regulatory era. They’re not about box-ticking, they’re about transforming how businesses think about digital risk. For UK organisations, this is an opportunity to build trust, stand out from competitors, and prove resilience in a world where cybersecurity threats are only growing. Because when the question is not if but when a cyber incident will happen, the organisations that prepare today will be the ones thriving tomorrow.