Knights of Old - A 150-Year Legacy Lost to a Preventable Cyber Incident 

In September 2023, Knights of Old, one of the UK’s oldest logistics companies, collapsed into administration. Just a few months earlier, the business had been hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted operations, exposed financial information, and left the company unable to fulfil contracts or maintain service levels. 

Founded in 1865, Knights of Old had survived world wars, recessions, fuel crises, and economic downturns. Yet, it could not survive one cyber breach. What happened to Knights of Old was not an isolated event. It is a stark example of what can happen when businesses underestimate the threat of cybercrime or delay taking basic precautions. 

Cyber Overwatch CEO who lived near the Knights of Old HQ said "it is genuinely sad, the most tragic element of this story is that the breach could almost certainly have been prevented through the implementation of something as simple as Cyber Essentials." 

Cyber Essentials is the UK Government’s entry-level cybersecurity standard. It is practical, affordable, and focuses on just five key areas that form the foundation of a secure environment. These controls are designed to protect against the most common and disruptive cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, and unauthorised access. 

According to the National Cyber Security Centre, organisations that adopt Cyber Essentials are protected against around 90 percent of the most common attacks. These are the very types of attacks that continue to cripple SMEs every week.

The logistics sector is especially exposed. Businesses rely on route planning software, remote access to fleet data, warehouse systems, and cloud-based communications. When one of these systems is compromised, the impact is immediate and severe. 

For Knights of Old, the attack not only froze operations but also damaged client relationships and financial credibility. Within weeks, the business was no longer viable. 

It did not fail due to market forces or poor leadership. It failed because of basic security gaps that should never have been left open. 

At Cyber Overwatch, we work with firms across transport, professional services, manufacturing, and other critical sectors. Many of them begin their cybersecurity journey with Cyber Essentials. For some, it is a contractual requirement. For others, it provides peace of mind and assurance to clients, regulators, and insurers. 

We have seen how small changes in configuration, access control, and patching can make the difference between resilience and disaster. These are not expensive fixes. They are necessary ones. 

If you are reading this and your organisation has not yet adopted Cyber Essentials, or you are unsure what protections are in place, now is the time to act. Cyber Essentials is not a certificate for the wall. It is a vital layer of basic defence, and it may be the one thing that prevents your company from suffering the same fate. 

For guidance on getting started, or for hands-on support from a certified Cyber Advisor, visit:  https://iasme.co.uk/cyber-essentials 

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