Are you ready for the inevitable? When it happens it will be about how prepared you are and how you respond.
Herdwick, the specialists in stakeholder communications and Waterstons, Your Strategic Digital and IT Partner, announced today their partnership offering their clients a complete response to cyber security threats.
The announcement is made when cyber security risk remains a top business concern. Research (1) shows that 43% of UK businesses have experienced a breach or cyber security attack, equating to 612,000 businesses. When a cyber security incident happens it will be about how prepared you are and how you respond. The joint offering from Herdwick and Waterstons provides a robust response that is well communicated:
Employees can be the first line of defence if they are able to identify phishing, which remains the most prevalent and disruptive breach. Board-level briefings, awareness campaigns, human risks management platforms, and bespoke security training helps to create the right security culture and can prevent an attack.
Knowing your stakeholders as well as planning and preparing ahead of time will allow you to communicate effectively with those impacted by the cyber security attack.
Running a simulation exercise will provide a safe environment to test, validate and refine your plans.
Establishment of response plans and supporting tools to guide your organisation to effectively respond to, and continue operating through, a cyber attack or other disruptive event.
Support you on your journey to compliance with security standards (inc. NCSC CAF, ISO27001, NIST CSF) through assessments and ongoing guidance, helping to strengthen resilience, meet stakeholder expectations, and fulfil regulatory requirements.
Delivery of 24/7 security monitoring through SOC and assurance services, including vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, to proactively identify and address security risks.
Provision of skilled staff to fill gaps or enhance security capability when and where you need it most.
Mike Evans, Co-Managing Director of Herwick Communications, said: “It is not a matter of if but when your business will be impacted by a cyber security incident. Minimising the impact and rebuilding trust with your stakeholders will aid a quicker recovery. This can be achieved by planning and preparing ahead of time and putting those impacted at the heart of your response. Herdwick can help you communicate your actions whilst you action what you communicate. Working with Waterstons you can avoid long-term reputational damage by identifying your risks and together we can develop a comprehensive cyber security response plan, which will get you on the front foot.”
Kieran Fowler, Head of Cyber Consulting at Waterstons, said: “As a managed security provider, we have seen that a robust security incident response and business continuity plan is more than a safety net - it’s a strategic advantage. When the unexpected happens, it’s not just your systems that are tested, but your ability to act quickly, communicate clearly, and adapt with confidence. By leveraging NCSC best practice guidelines, we help organisations protect critical assets but also ensure rapid recovery and ongoing operations. With the start of Cyber Security Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to empower your colleagues, review your processes, and strengthen your defences.”
Get in touch with Herdwick and Waterstons who are here to guide you every step of the way, so you can respond confidently to any incident and maintain trust with your stakeholders.
For further information about Waterstons, please click here: https://www.waterstons.com
For media enquiries related to Waterstons please contact Jenn Brown:
Tel: +44 345 094 0945
Email: info@waterstons.com or jenn.brown@waterstons.com
(1) Research based on survey conducted by The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025