Cyber resilience: are you ready for when it hits the fan?

Business leaders from across the Midlands and beyond came together in Hereford for HCR Law’s cyber resilience event, exploring how organisations can prepare for, respond to and recover from cyber incidents.

The event took place on 24 March 2026 at the Shell Store in Hereford, with an expert panel sharing practical insight into building resilience before an incident occurs and limiting damage when it does.

The discussion was chaired by Dr Kerry Beynon, Partner in the Technology and Innovation Team at HCR Law. She was joined by:

• Jonathan Hemus, Managing Director, Insignia
• Pete Rucinski, Managing Director, Assure Technical
• Ryan Protheroe, Cluster Manager, Midlands Cyber.

Preparation is everything

The panellists stressed that cyber attacks are a question of when, not if. Their advice focused on steps businesses can take now, including:

• Investing in staff awareness and training
• Developing and regularly testing incident response plans
• Embedding a culture of resilience from the top down.

Response and communication

The panel also shared practical guidance on communicating during a cyber incident – when to speak, who to inform and how much detail to provide. Real-world examples of both effective and ineffective responses highlighted the direct impact communication can have on reputation and trust.

Is it a losing battle?

With attackers seemingly always one step ahead, the discussion turned to whether investment in cyber security still delivers value. The panel was emphatic: robust security measures significantly reduce both the likelihood of an incident and its potential impact.

They also warned against tunnel vision, stressing that cyber risk should sit within a wider risk management strategy rather than be treated in isolation.

Key takeaways

The event concluded with a lively audience Q&A, underlining just how firmly cyber resilience is now on the agenda for businesses across the region.