UK universities are facing a significant cybersecurity challenge, with 85% reporting breaches in the past year, a figure substantially higher than the 32% reported by UK businesses. The frequent cyber attacks, often occurring weekly, are primarily driven by the valuable research data held by universities, making them attractive targets for ransomware attacks. Contributing to the vulnerability is the limited budget and resources available for cybersecurity, exacerbated by a national shortfall of over 14,000 cybersecurity personnel. The financial impact of breaches is severe, with the average global cost of a data breach being $4.35 million, which strains already tight university budgets. To address these challenges on a limited budget, universities are encouraged to develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, reduce data silos, automate processes, consider an open, community-based approach, and consolidate security tools. These measures aim to enhance cybersecurity defenses, improve data management, and leverage community resources for more effective threat detection and response.