Ensuring your server setup aligns with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) good practice is about making sure your business's critical IT infrastructure is secure, reliable, and resilient. For a UK SME, this means your servers—whether on-premises or cloud-based—are configured and maintained to reduce cyber risks, protect sensitive data, and keep your operations running smoothly without unexpected downtime.

Why this matters for UK SMEs

Servers hold your business's vital information and applications. If they are not set up securely, you risk data breaches, ransomware attacks, or system failures that can disrupt your service delivery, damage your reputation, and lead to costly recovery efforts. For example, a typical 50-employee business might rely on a local file server for storing customer data and internal documents. Without proper access controls, regular updates, or backups, a cyberattack could lock you out of your files or expose personal data, which could also lead to ICO investigations under UK GDPR.

A practical scenario

Consider a mid-sized marketing agency with 120 staff using a mix of on-premises and cloud servers. Their IT provider conducted a review and found outdated software versions, weak password policies, and no multi-factor authentication (MFA) on critical systems. By following NCSC guidelines, the provider implemented regular patching schedules, enforced MFA, improved firewall configurations, and set up encrypted backups stored offsite. This reduced their risk of ransomware and ensured business continuity during a later attempted cyberattack.

Checklist: How to check your server setup against NCSC good practice

• Ask your IT provider: Do you follow NCSC's guidance on server hardening, patch management, and access controls?
• Confirm patching routines: Are operating systems and server applications updated regularly to fix security vulnerabilities?
• Review access policies: Who has admin access to servers? Is access limited to necessary staff with unique accounts?
• Check multi-factor authentication: Is MFA enabled on all server login points, especially for remote access?
• Inspect backup procedures: Are backups performed frequently, encrypted, and stored securely offsite or in the cloud?
• Verify logging and monitoring: Are server logs collected and reviewed to detect unusual activity promptly?
• Evaluate network security: Are firewalls and intrusion detection systems configured according to best practices?
• Request documentation: Can your provider supply evidence of their security controls and incident response plans?

Next steps

Reviewing your server setup against NCSC good practice is a key step in managing cyber risks and supporting compliance with UK data protection requirements. If you're unsure about your current state or how to improve, speak with a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor who understands SME needs and UK security standards. They can help identify gaps, recommend practical improvements, and support ongoing maintenance to keep your servers secure and your business resilient.