BUSINESSNEWS
UK SMEs : The importance of cyber security
As part of Cyber Security Month Michelle Kradolfer , Cyber Development Officer at the Police Digital Security Centre looks at the cyber security landscape , how SME ’ s can test their cyber security resilience and the simple steps that SME ’ s can take to improve it . Michelle graduated from Middlesex University in December 2019 , with a Master of cyber crime and Digital Investigation ( with Distinction ). Her previous academic background includes a Master of Criminology and Bachelor of Socio-Legal Studies , which she completed at the University of Sydney in Australia .
» IN 2014 MICHELLE WAS AN INTERN at INTERPOL , with the Research and Innovation team within the Cyber Innovation & Outreach Directorate . That internship sparked an interest in cyber crime and cyber security , and wishing to pursue a career in this field she moved to London a few years later . In 2019 , Michelle successfully completed a course on blockchain forensics by CipherTrace and was accredited as a CipherTrace Certified Examiner ( CTCE ). She additionally obtained a certificate for a foundation course in coding and web development .
Since the start of the global Covid-19 pandemic , cybercrime has increased by 600 %. 46 % of all UK businesses have suffered at least one attack within the last 12 months . Around 65,000 cyber-attacks are attempted on UK SMEs daily , with about 4,500 of them carried out successfully , according to Hiscox . This means that every 19 seconds , one SME in the UK is suffering from a cyber breach / attack – and a survey by cyber insurance firm Gallagher reported that at least a third of businesses admitted that if they suffered a
breach and were unable to continue to trade , their business wouldn ’ t be able to survive for more than a month .
SMEs are already dealing with difficult challenges and the last thing they want to think about is cyber security . However , with the sudden change in work practices as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic , cyber criminals are taking this opportunity to exploit SMEs poor security and attack them when they are at their most vulnerable . This is why investing in cyber security has never been more important .
Nowadays businesses have a website , store important digital information within their system or the cloud ( e . g . personal / financial data , intellectual property ), use online banking and usually equip their staff with work devices ( phones , computer , USB drives ). If these
devices and network systems are not secured properly and left vulnerable , an organisation can fall victim to a cyber attack . The effects of such a breach can be devastating , resulting in financial , personal and material loss , which could leave the business fighting for their very existence .
While this all may sound daunting , here ’ s the good news ! Implementing good cyber security practices within your organisation is very easy , simple and straightforward .
We at the Police Digital Security Centre believe that education and awareness is the most effective way of reducing the vulnerability of small businesses to the most common types of cyber crime . By making simple changes within your organisation and reviewing those cyber security measures on a regular basis , can help you prevent an attack or breach . For example , ensuring that you have a strong password policy , training your staff how to spot phishing emails and encouraging good cyber security practices within your business ,
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