Cyber security experts have teamed up with Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen to deliver advice and support to a multi-academy educational trust to reduce its risk of cyberattack.
The North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC) delivered a special training session at a local academy trust to strengthen staff awareness of cybercrime and advise on preventative action to limit the organisation’s vulnerability.
The training formed part of a new partnership between NEBRC and County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen to raise awareness of cyber security among education institutions and small businesses across the area and help them proactively address risk.
As part of her Police and Crime Plan commitment to help businesses protect themselves from crime, PCC has agreed to part fund the cost of each safety session with the remaining costs met by institutions themselves. The aim is to remove any cost barriers educational providers face in accessing help and support to keep their data assets safe.
The Durham Police and Crime Commissioner continues to support the work of the NEBRC in improving the cyber security of the county’s schools and colleges and will, in line with their commissioning process, consider supporting similar matched funding proposals on a case-by-case basis.
Established in 2019 by a police-led team collaborating across seven forces across the North East, Yorkshire & The Humber, the NEBRC works to help protect and support businesses from cybercrime and online fraud.
NEBRC Director and South Yorkshire Police Superintendent Rebecca Chapman said: “The NEBRC offers a unique bond between police, business, and academia to provide affordable cyber security advice to small and medium businesses from any sector across the region.
“Our unique approach gives us exclusive access to the latest information on legislation, criminal trends, threats, and new technology allowing us to provide the very best advice to safeguard staff, customers, and business.
“Today, with so many of us reliant on advanced technological systems we are all only too aware of the threat cyber security can pose. To date, we have supported scores of businesses from numerous sectors across our region to better understand and manage their cyber security needs.”
Commissioner Allen added: “The schools and education providers I work with across County Durham and Darlington are understandably concerned at the growing rate of cyber breaches impacting the sector. These attacks can be catastrophic financially and result in huge disruption to teaching and learning.
“I am really proud to be working with the North East Business Resilience Centre to improve the affordability of this expert help and ensure providers have the opportunity to learn how they can best counter any threats to their networks.
“Like most other crimes, cyberattacks can be largely preventable. The evidence suggests that simple protective steps can significantly reduce the chance of an attack and I want to do everything I can to keep these organisations and their data safe.
“This project continues to go from strength to strength and has demonstrated the high demand for cost-effective cyber support to help businesses respond to today’s online threats.”
Now operating as part of a national network, the NEBRC provides services to businesses delivered by talented and informed university under graduates, to help minimise the risk posed by cyber criminals and support those who most need cyber protection. Once students have assessed the centre can then refer clients to selected and trusted partners, including those at the forefront of evolving technology.
As part of her Police and Crime Plan priority ‘Safer Online’, the Commissioner has pledged to gain a better understanding of the crimes faced by businesses and ensure they receive the right support they need to keep themselves and their customers safe.
She has also committed to tackling the emerging threats of cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crime by developing new tactics and capabilities to safeguard those using online platforms.
