Cyber-crime experts from Greater Manchester Police are to hold a talk in Eccles later this month to raise awareness of the issue among small businesses.
Two detectives from GMP’s cyber-crime team will give a presentation on online security at a free networking event being held by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) at Eccles’ Church Street RBS bank. A question and answer session will follow the talk.
Topics covered at the event, which will be illustrated using examples drawn from real life, include the types of cyber-crime that commonly affect SMEs, the impact these can have on firms, how to report such crimes and where companies can seek further assistance.
Cyber-crime is becoming an increasingly serious issue for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The cost of the most serious online security breaches affecting these firms has more than doubled since last year and now stands at £310,800, according to the government.
FSB Regional Chairman for Manchester and North Cheshire Simon Edmondson said that while many SMEs are ‘under-protected and therefore vulnerable to criminals’, protective measures are usually ‘simple and easy to action’.
He added: “I would urge any business owner who has questions about cyber crime to come along and hear from the experts at GMP any measures they can take to better protect their livelihoods. In most cases protective measures are simple and easy to action.”
Digital economy minister Ed Vaizey recently unveiled a raft of new measures to help protect SMEs from cyber security threats, including a voucher scheme giving firms access to up to £5,000 worth of specialist advice.
Free information is also being made available via the government’s Cyber Essentials programme.
The event, which is open to people who are not members of the FSB, will begin at 6pm on Tuesday, September 15. Places are free, but as space is limited firms can book by clicking here.
Picture courtesy of Colin, via Wikimedia, with thanks.
