National Cyber Resilience Centre Group: Developing

Developing cyber resilience

QDetective Superintendent Nick Bell Chief Executive Officer National Cyber Resilience Centre Group L aunched last December by UK security minister Damian Hinds, the National Network of Regional Cyber Resilience Centres Group (NCRCG) was set up to strengthen the reach of & cyber resilience across the business community. The Group funds the delivery of affordable cyber resilience services to SMEs through a network of regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRs) and helps to make businesses safer, more secure, and more resilient. We asked Nick Bell to explain more.

Should SMEs be worried about cybercrime?

Every organisation in this country is potentially a target for cyber criminals – whatever its size, location, or sector. Unfortunately, the smaller organisations too often bear the brunt of cybercrime and don’t have the knowledge, capacity, or resources to maintain any pretence of business as usual during, and in the aftermath of an attack. The good news is that the CRCs are there to help businesses, especially SMEs including those who are working at home or who may be sole traders.

Why now?

Over the last 18 months, this threat to business has increased galvanised by a change in behaviours and crime patterns CRCs bring together public and private sector and academia to support the needs of business. There are specialist police leading each CRC which deliver tailored, trusted, affordable and high-quality services to local businesses; ensuring consistent national guidance, support, and assistance gets far closer to those who really need it.

What resources do they provide

to SMEs? We have set up a cadre of students from 42 universities who are mentored and supported by our organisation. They provide affordable, good, trusted services to businesses with security awareness training, corporate and individual internet discovery, vulnerability assessments, security and cyber business continuity reviews. Brokers and their SME clients can find more detailed information on the regional websites via nationalcrcgroup.co.uk A How do you see the future of cybercrime, security and SME’s ability to tackle the issues? Cybercrime will continue to evolve. The CRCs and other initiatives are continually seeking to understand how best to protect important business assets and improve defences against cyber criminals. Policing, private sector and academia will be working together

Tackling cybercrime sounds very

specialist. Shouldnʼt it be left to

IT professionals?

Over the last decade it has become a fundamental priority for any business leader. An appropriate and effective cyber strategy needs to be integral to the operation of all organisations. The police have a responsibility to support business with cybercrime and a new, cohesive national strategy is being launched this month by the Commissioner of City of London Police, Angela Maclaren. because of the pandemic. In March 2021, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s (DCMS) Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that almost two-fifths of businesses and over a quarter of charities reported having cyber security breaches or attacks in the previous 12 months, with one in five ending up losing money, data, or assets.

How many regional CRCs are there?

There are ten centres which operate at regional level across England and Wales mapped according to the location of each police Regional Organised Crime Unit. The to ensure that business communities are protected as well and as fully as possible.