Merseyside businesses are being urged to join forces to combat cyber crime as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month.
With high profile hacks causing huge disruption to major companies around the UK including Jaguar Land Rover, Merseyside Police is pushing local businesses to adopt their free cybersecurity tool to help protect themselves and others.
Last year, 682 Merseyside businesses reported cybercrimes, while a national survey found that attacks can cost businesses £8,000. Charities lose over £21,000 on average.
A video released by Merseyside Police features Kirby Grammar School who have already adopted the Police CyberAlarm, a secure virtual server that monitors threats and allows police cybercrime units to warn participating organisations of threats.
Detective Sergeant Danny Gavin of Merseyside Police’s Cybercrime Unit, said: “Cybercrime affects organisations of every size, and defending against it requires a collective approach.
“We have produced the new video to be shown during cybercrime prevention talks delivered by our cyber investigators. Our aim is to help organisations in Merseyside learn how Police CyberAlarm can improve their cyber defences, and that it is free to use.”
Merseyside Police believe that many cybercrime attacks go unreported and that the figure of 682 affected businesses might not reflect the true scale of the problem.
Dr Áine Mac Dermott, senior lecturer at LJMU who specialises in digital forensics and cybersecurity, said: “I think a lot of the time companies think just because something’s not happening to them, it doesn’t affect them, but actually awareness’s like this are good because they bring out the statistics.”
She went on to say that tools like the Police CyberAlarm have good benefits, although businesses should be using other sorts of security mechanisms on top of this as well.
To register for free Police CyberAlarm membership, visit cyberalarm.police.uk/register.
You can watch Merseyside Police’s video on the Police CyberAlarm on YouTube below:
Watch our social short on TikTok:
@merseynewslive Merseyside Police have released a YouTube video on their Police CyberAlarm, aimed at aiding businesses, charities and public sector organisations prevent cyberattacks. Read the full story on our website. #cybersecurity #merseysidepolice ♬ original sound – MerseyNewsLive
