Cut-price cyber security training for small businesses
Thousands of small businesses will be offered cut-price training on the basics of cyber security under new Government funding, following several high-profile hacks, reports BritPanorama.
SMEs and micro businesses will be eligible for a 75% discount on the Cyber Essentials certification programme. The Government will allocate £2.4 million to cover the cost of the discount, which is estimated to reach around 6,000 businesses.
The programme, developed by the National Cyber Security Centre, is the minimum standard of security that the Government recommends and is designed to help companies of all sizes prevent the most common internet-based cyber attacks.
Cyber security minister Liz Lloyd stated that SMEs were “particularly vulnerable in the age of rising cyber threats.” “We are not going to sit back and let malicious actors take advantage – we will back our SMEs and make them match-fit,” she added.
The new funding comes in the wake of a series of significant cyber attacks. Last week, around 6.3 billion US dollars (£4.7 billion) was stolen from Binance wallets, marking the largest cryptocurrency theft in history, according to the crypto exchange. Blockchain intelligence companies have implicated a North Korean hacking unit in the attack.
Additionally, fashion marketplace Asos reported in October that an “unauthorised party” had gained access to an employee’s account, alerting customers to a potential hack. The retailer confirmed that some personal data, including names and contact details, had been accessed.
Last year, a major cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover forced the carmaker to halt production at its factories for several weeks, negatively impacting its sales and overall financial performance.
The 75% discount on the Cyber Essentials scheme will enable firms to pay as little as £80 and no more than £125, plus VAT, to attain the certification. This offer will be on a first come, first served basis for businesses that have not been certified in the last four years and will remain available until March, or until the allocated funding is exhausted.
