BT Group has announced a strategic collaboration with global cybersecurity leader CrowdStrike to launch a new AI-powered security service, BT Business Antivirus Detect and Respond, which will protect small and medium-sized businesses across the United Kingdom. BT hopes to close its cyber defense gap for small businesses plagued by rapidly evolving cyberthreats, enabling them to benefit from enterprise-grade security.
SMMEs: The perfect targets for cybercriminals
Despite their relatively small size and scope, many SMEs have become the perfect target for cybercriminals due to their lack of preparedness and resources to withstand and respond to the attacks.
On October 30, 2025, BT Group announced the commercial availability of BT Business Antivirus Detect and Respond, an advanced endpoint security solution powered by CrowdStrike Falcon® Go. SME’s need to protect their businesses, customers, and employees effectively, but remain exposed to the vast majority of cyberattacks primarily targeting this segment.
According to the CrowdStrike State of SMB Cybersecurity Survey, while 75% of SMEs are aware that they are unprepared, only 11% of respondents use AI to protect their infrastructure.
Most survey participants reported struggles with limited budgets, insufficient expertise, and too many security products and services.
CrowdStrike’s chief business officer on changing the face of cybersecurity
CrowdStrike’s vision for transforming cybersecurity:
“This partnership joins two visionaries striving to change the face of cybersecurity for a nation–providing the United Kingdom’s small and medium-sized businesses with the same AI-powered security previously open solely to the planet’s largest enterprises. With BT, we have changed the game to unprecedented new heights. For the first time, Small and medium-sized businesses’ cybersecurity is not a constraint but an advantage, allowing them to innovate, expand, and compete confidently.”
The sentiment is repeated by Chris Sims, BT Business’s Chief Commercial Officer:
“Our clients report that they want to be protected from the most recent threats without increasing complexity. BT Business Antivirus Detect and Response gives businesses access to high-quality security from CrowdStrike while also receiving the highest level of service from BT. It is straightforward to put up and use, and it is intended to shield you so that you may continue performing business.”
A crucial time for cybersecurity solutions
In the last few years, we have seen a rise in cyber attacks against small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with companies experiencing damaging breaches leading to financial loss, damage to their reputation, and lost time on business.
The results revealed 29% of these smaller organizations (those with less than 250 employees) suffered a ransomware attack, highlighting the importance of secure and reachable security solutions.
Together, CrowdStrike and BT are reimagining what’s possible for SMBs – turning cybersecurity from a barrier into a business advantage so they can innovate, grow, and compete with confidence.
BT-CrowdStrike partnership hopes to level the battlefield with AI and automation. Falcon Go utilizes real-time attack forensics, threat intelligence, and behavioral analysis to identify threats that would otherwise go unnoticed.
The need for proactive solutions
It is important to note that the partnership is part of a larger trend within the cybersecurity industry – the democratization of advanced security tools. With cloud-native platforms and managed services, what used to be the privilege of large enterprises is now available to smaller organizations.
The UK’s leading fixed and mobile telecommunications operator, BT Group, offers its vast network and customer base. CrowdStrike contributes its world-famous expertise in endpoint and cloud security.
The joint mission is to provide UK SMBs with the tools and knowledge they need to defend themselves and succeed in the ever-growing digital economy. The number and sophistication of cyber threats are growing rapidly. Therefore, all kinds of collaborations, including this one, are necessary to ensure that every business has access to the necessary tools and assistance to remain secure.