UK's biggest home defence drill puts spotlight on supply chain cyber risk, says Parcelhero

July 22, 2026 - PRLog -- New analysis of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) latest business survey, carried out by the home delivery specialist Parcelhero, reveals that fears over cyber-attacks disrupting supply chains vary sharply depending on the sector. Some parts of the economy that keep the nation stocked and running are far more worried than others.  Parcelhero says retailers are considerably more worried than the transport and logistics firms that actually move their goods.

The analysis comes at a critical time. Cabinet Office minister Darren Jones told Parliament this month that the multi-day 'Operation Albiston Shadow' exercise, planned for 2027, will test the country's ability to respond to hybrid attacks, including cyber-attacks, sabotage and disinformation, alongside a wider NATO exercise.

Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: 'When Government is rehearsing its response to hybrid threats, it's worth asking how ready the businesses behind Britain's supply chains feel too. The ONS data gives a useful, if uneven, answer.

'Across all UK businesses, 7.1% currently say they're concerned about a cyber-attack affecting their supply chains over the next 12 months. But that average hides some real differences by sector.

'Of the three sectors most central to getting goods onto shelves, wholesale & retail is the most concerned about cyber-attacks disrupting supply chains, with 11.7% citing this worry — well above the all-business average. Manufacturing follows closely at 9.0%. In contrast, transport & storage, the sector that actually moves goods around the country and includes logistics, parcels, haulage and warehousing firms, reports the lowest concern of the three at just 3.3%, below the national average.

'One certainty is that transport & storage companies partnered with retailers who have strong in-store and online sales will be best placed to weather unpredictable issues such as cyber attacks and global conflicts. Parcelhero's new report, "Putting the AI into supply chAIns", explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping logistics, warehousing, shipping, freight and the future of global trade. The full report is available at https://www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/resources/ebooks/2030-the-high-street-fights-back