Protecting South East Businesses

Southampton Science Park was pleased to host an informative and timely event in collaboration with the South East Cyber Resilience Centre (SECRC) recently. 

SECRC is a police-led, not-for-profit partnership between academia and businesses and is part of a new nationwide network working to boost cyber resilience amongst SMEs and micro-businesses. These small businesses are deemed to be the most unlikely to afford support and yet, likely to suffer the greatest impacts of any cyber attack. 

The organisation’s Detective Superintendent Andy Richardson and Detective Inspector Chris White revealed the common threats that UK businesses face from cybercrime and discussed potential solutions to reduce the risk of falling victim to these. They went on to outline the range of cyber security services provided by the SECRC and demonstrated how the organisation works with universities to provide opportunities for cyber students.

Alex Malbon, Co-Founder and CEO of Zerodai, and Tom Chapman, Principal Teaching Fellow at the University of Southampton Business School, joined the session for a panel Q&A around data breaches and the impact they can have on businesses. Several examples were given, and the discussion revealed how easy it is for hackers to use social engineering and other tactics to commit cybercrime. 

Chris White, Head of Cyber and Innovation for The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East said: “The event at the Southampton Science Park was an important opportunity to highlight the threat that cybercrime presents to all businesses, regardless of size and sector. It is a subject that has not been spoken about enough and consequently not prioritised, but with attacks increasingly in the headlines, we are seeing a positive trend in businesses wanting to learn more about their own cyber risks and how to manage these effectively.”

SECRC offers free membership to businesses in the region. Membership provides access to a range of easy-to-follow resources designed to increase security. Members also receive regular updates on anticipated cyber attacks and steps that can be taken to mitigate against these threats. Find out more at: www.secrc.co.uk/membership. 

Find out about future Science Park events.