Centre launched to protect the capital’s businesses from cybercrime

London’s businesses are being urged to join a new scheme, which has launched today thanks to funding from the Mayor, to protect them from the growing threat of cybercrime.

Figures from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show that more than £1.8bn was lost to fraud and cybercrime in London over the last year, with 35 per cent of small and micro businesses suffering at least one attack or breach which equates to around 250,000 businesses.

The new Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) is comprised of industry experts who will work with the Met Police, City of London Police and British Transport Police to enable it to support the capital’s small and medium businesses and help them be best prepared against a cyber-attack and support them when they have been targeted.

With London businesses increasingly targeted by phishing, hacking and ransomware attacks, industry leaders are warning that every organisation and business is a potential target for cyber criminals. Small and medium businesses are often hit harder by a loss of funds.

Over the next three years, the centre aims to help support around 20,000 London businesses most vulnerable to attacks, providing small business owners with practical online safety advice and face-to-face visits.

The Mayor is investing £200,000 to support the Centre’s Community Outreach programme which includes the development of self-help toolkits for businesses and ‘How-To’ Video Guides on improving their resilience against cyber-attacks.

Cyber Resilience Centres receive an annual grant from the Home Office to help support the businesses that are most vulnerable to attacks, providing small business owners with valuable information and face-to-face community outreach visits which will help to keep London’s small and medium-sized businesses safe.

Today, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden launched the new Cyber Resilience Centre at an event at City Hall attended by business owners. This is part of the Mayor’s ambition to make London the safest city in the world to do business online.

Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime, Sophie Linden, said: “Our new Cyber Resilience Centre will help businesses stay safe online and protect them from cyber criminals. This is all part of our work to build a safer, more prosperous city for everyone and I urge all businesses in London to sign-up and use the centre’s services.”

Metropolitan police commander, Catherine Roper, said: “It is essential that we come together to help London businesses protect themselves against cybercrime. This crime type is rapidly increasing, and often initially unseen, and yet has devastating effects on businesses and individuals.

Chief information security officer at NatWest, Chris Ulliott, said: “NatWest is proud to be an ambassador for the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and are delighted to support the opening of London’s new Cyber Resilience Centre. The centre is working to help the capital’s business community build resilience against the very real threat of cybercrime.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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