Human error costs UK businesses £14.7b annually in data breach losses
23/02/2026 | Digit
New research from Workflo Solutions identifies human error as the most exploited vulnerability for UK businesses. Marking the start of CyberScotland Week 2026, the West Lothian-based provider noted that over 95% of domestic data breaches are caused by staff mistakes rather than advanced technical attacks.
Common errors cited include falling for phishing scams, using compromised credentials, and misconfiguring security settings. The firm stressed that these weaknesses stem from everyday behaviours and social engineering, highlighting a persistent gap between hacker capabilities and employee cyber awareness across the country.
The financial impact is significant, with data breaches costing the UK economy an estimated £14.7 billion annually. Individual incidents involving costs of at least £500 average nearly £195,000 per business.
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