5
minute read
Beyond the Breach: Why Design is Your Front Line in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity
UXDesign
Dataprotection
In today's hyper-connected world, a cyber-attack isn't a matter of 'if', but 'when'. The headlines are a constant reminder: even the largest, most established organisations are vulnerable. Recent incidents impacting UK retail giants like Co-op and Marks & Spencer serve as stark warnings, highlighting the profound repercussions that extend far beyond technical breaches. For us at Studio Soren, these events underscore a critical, often overlooked, truth: effective cybersecurity isn't just an IT problem; it's a design challenge.
Suraj Soren
Jul 22, 2025
The True Cost of a Cyber-Attack: More Than Just Fines
When a company like Co-op confirms 6.5 million members had their data stolen in a cyber-attack, the immediate fallout is immense. Similarly, Marks & Spencer's website was shut down for six weeks at an estimated cost of £300 million after being targeted. Beyond the direct financial hit, the repercussions ripple outward:
Reputational Damage: Erosion of customer trust and public image. News of a data breach travels fast and can be devastating.
Operational Disruption: Business continuity is severely impacted, with checkouts shutting down, deliveries delayed, and staff unable to perform basic tasks.
Legal & Regulatory Consequences: This is where the true long-term pain often sets in. Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, organisations have strict obligations. Failures can lead to investigations by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The Hammer of the Law: GDPR and Fines
The legal implications of data breaches are severe. The ICO has the power to issue substantial fines:
Lower-tier violations: Up to £8.7 million (€10 million) or 2% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher.
Higher-tier violations: Up to £17.5 million (€20 million) or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher, for the most serious offences.
We've seen major fines issued: British Airways was fined £20 million and Marriott Hotels £18.4 million for failures in protecting personal data. These cases often reveal that adequate security measures were lacking. Legal teams are also pursuing multi-million-pound court actions against companies like M&S for customer data breaches.
The Missing Piece: UX and Edge Cases in Cybersecurity
While large companies certainly invest in robust policies and protocols, a crucial element often overlooked is the user experience (UX) consideration when it comes to edge cases of cybersecurity attacks. Security measures that are cumbersome, confusing, or don't account for real-world user behaviour can lead to human error – often the weakest link in any defence.
If employees find security protocols too complex, they might bypass them. If error messages are unclear during an unusual login attempt, users might inadvertently compromise their accounts. These are design failures. Data is not just an asset to protect; it's the lifeblood of modern business, requiring a holistic protection strategy that includes how users interact with security.
Studio Soren: Designing Security from the User Up
At Studio Soren, we are experts in designing experiences with cybersecurity in mind. Our founder, for instance, is currently leading design efforts for cybersecurity experiences at BT Group, having recently run workshops outlining key pain points businesses face when searching for cybersecurity products. This work directly contributes to developing a north star vision for the future of business cybersecurity.
We understand that effective security is not just about locking things down; it's about designing systems that are inherently secure and intuitively usable. Our approach integrates security considerations from the very first stages of strategic design and UX development. We meticulously map user journeys to identify potential vulnerabilities at every touch-point, designing for edge cases and human behaviour. This means:
User-Centred Security: Creating authentication flows and security notifications that are clear, manageable, and guide users to make secure choices, even under pressure.
Proactive Vulnerability Design: Embedding security protocols into the core UX, rather than as an afterthought.
Continuous Improvement: Building systems that can adapt to evolving threats and user behaviours, ensuring business continuity throughout the software lifecycle.
We help organisations protect their most valuable data by designing digital products where security is seamlessly woven into an intuitive and engaging user experience. Partner with Studio Soren to ensure your digital assets are protected by intelligent design, not just rigid protocols.
Get in touch to learn how Studio Soren can embed a strong foundation of Cybersecurity within your organisations frameworks
The True Cost of a Cyber-Attack: More Than Just Fines
When a company like Co-op confirms 6.5 million members had their data stolen in a cyber-attack, the immediate fallout is immense. Similarly, Marks & Spencer's website was shut down for six weeks at an estimated cost of £300 million after being targeted. Beyond the direct financial hit, the repercussions ripple outward:
Reputational Damage: Erosion of customer trust and public image. News of a data breach travels fast and can be devastating.
Operational Disruption: Business continuity is severely impacted, with checkouts shutting down, deliveries delayed, and staff unable to perform basic tasks.
Legal & Regulatory Consequences: This is where the true long-term pain often sets in. Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, organisations have strict obligations. Failures can lead to investigations by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The Hammer of the Law: GDPR and Fines
The legal implications of data breaches are severe. The ICO has the power to issue substantial fines:
Lower-tier violations: Up to £8.7 million (€10 million) or 2% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher.
Higher-tier violations: Up to £17.5 million (€20 million) or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher, for the most serious offences.
We've seen major fines issued: British Airways was fined £20 million and Marriott Hotels £18.4 million for failures in protecting personal data. These cases often reveal that adequate security measures were lacking. Legal teams are also pursuing multi-million-pound court actions against companies like M&S for customer data breaches.
The Missing Piece: UX and Edge Cases in Cybersecurity
While large companies certainly invest in robust policies and protocols, a crucial element often overlooked is the user experience (UX) consideration when it comes to edge cases of cybersecurity attacks. Security measures that are cumbersome, confusing, or don't account for real-world user behaviour can lead to human error – often the weakest link in any defence.
If employees find security protocols too complex, they might bypass them. If error messages are unclear during an unusual login attempt, users might inadvertently compromise their accounts. These are design failures. Data is not just an asset to protect; it's the lifeblood of modern business, requiring a holistic protection strategy that includes how users interact with security.
Studio Soren: Designing Security from the User Up
At Studio Soren, we are experts in designing experiences with cybersecurity in mind. Our founder, for instance, is currently leading design efforts for cybersecurity experiences at BT Group, having recently run workshops outlining key pain points businesses face when searching for cybersecurity products. This work directly contributes to developing a north star vision for the future of business cybersecurity.
We understand that effective security is not just about locking things down; it's about designing systems that are inherently secure and intuitively usable. Our approach integrates security considerations from the very first stages of strategic design and UX development. We meticulously map user journeys to identify potential vulnerabilities at every touch-point, designing for edge cases and human behaviour. This means:
User-Centred Security: Creating authentication flows and security notifications that are clear, manageable, and guide users to make secure choices, even under pressure.
Proactive Vulnerability Design: Embedding security protocols into the core UX, rather than as an afterthought.
Continuous Improvement: Building systems that can adapt to evolving threats and user behaviours, ensuring business continuity throughout the software lifecycle.
We help organisations protect their most valuable data by designing digital products where security is seamlessly woven into an intuitive and engaging user experience. Partner with Studio Soren to ensure your digital assets are protected by intelligent design, not just rigid protocols.
Get in touch to learn how Studio Soren can embed a strong foundation of Cybersecurity within your organisations frameworks
