UK threatens £100K a day fines under new cyber bill – Immediate Action Needed for CNI Suppliers

UK Threatens £100K a day fines under new cyber bill

In our recent blog called Preparing for the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: What It Means for Rail, Road, and Maritime Supply Chains, we talked about what the Cyber Security Resilience (CSR) Bill is, why it matters and how it’s set to change the cybersecurity landscape across the UK especially for the Rail, Road and Maritime Supply Chains. This follow-up takes a closer look at a critical part of that legislation: the financial penalties—and why suppliers supporting essential services in the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sector need to act NOW.

Let’s Do a Quick Refresh on the topic: What is The UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill?

The UK Cyber Security and Resilience (CSR) Bill is a new government initiative aimed at boosting national cyber defenses across both public and private sectors. This bill was first introduced in the 2024 King’s Speech. The bill is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to protect its Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) from rising cyber threats.

Here’s what The UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill Does:

• Expands the scope of existing NIS regulations to include more sectors, particularly Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and suppliers to CNI.

• Gives the government power to issue binding cybersecurity directives during emerging threats or vulnerabilities.

• Introduces steep penalties for organisations that fail to comply with security obligations.

This bill directly impacts any organisations supplying essential services—especially in industries like transportation, utilities, healthcare, energy, and digital infrastructure.

UK threatens £100k a day fines under new cyber bill: What Suppliers Need to Know

The penalties for failing to meet the cybersecurity requirements set out in the CSR Bill are severe:

• £100,000 per day for non-compliance with official directives.

• Or 10% of your global annual turnover, depending on which is higher.

These fines are not theoretical—they are ACTIVE NOW and aimed at driving immediate behavioural change across the supply chain. This is especially important for businesses delivering services to rail networks, maritime operations, road infrastructure, and utility providers. 

Why Suppliers to CNI Must Act Now:

If your company delivers digital services, devices, or platforms that support CNI operators under an Essential Service, the CSR Bill applies to you. You’re now expected to:

• Maintain a high standard of cybersecurity risk management.

• Be prepared to follow government issued cyber directives immediately.

• Ensure your supply chain is equally secure and compliant.

For a detailed list of what constitutes “essential services,” refer to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidance on Operators of Essential Services (OES).

Final Thought:

This isn’t something to plan for “later.” The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is LIVE and the cost of ignoring it is high—financially and reputationally. If you’re a supplier to essential services, now is the time to assess, secure, and align with the new standards. 

By demonstrating Cyber hygiene with support and building in a strategy to tackle ongoing Cybersecurity through risk management into physical principles can outline good practices for your business, but also reduce potential issues when Cyber-attacks occur and involve the supply chain, including your organisation in this case. 

Not sure where to start? Do you need help with cybersecurity review or compliance check? Contact our team and let’s make sure you’re not at risk.