One hundred cyber champions in the workplace have been trained across the County as part of a recent initiative to fight online fraud.
The cyber champions in the workplace training was launched in October by
Staffordshire’s Online Fraud Forum on behalf of Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis.
The free training gives Staffordshire businesses the chance to get cyber savvy and stay one step ahead of online fraudsters, with designated workplace champions.
The partnership of local business and public sector organisations is chaired by Deputy Staffordshire Commissioner Sue Arnold: ‘I am delighted that in such a short space of time we have trained 100 cyber champions.
‘It’s all too easy to fall foul of online fraud, and the consequences can be devastating.
‘We all have to become smarter if we’re going to reduce the impact of this kind of crime and this free training will enable businesses to stay ahead of the fraudsters.
‘These Cyber Crime champions will be the first point of contact for information and will be able to share it easily and quickly with their colleagues’.
Fraudsters are increasingly targeting businesses large and small. Last year, online
fraud and cybercrime was estimated to have cost the economy £27 billion a year with £5.8 million loses in Staffordshire in the past 3 months.
Cybercrime is swiftly becoming the most damaging crime a victim can experience.
Millions of pounds and reams of sensitive data are stolen every year and a lot of this can be prevented with some simple actions.
The training, is delivered by Staffordshire Police’s Crime Prevention Design Advisor,
Kate Dempsey and Staffordshire’s Digital Police Community Support Officer.
Kate Dempsey, (lead advisor on the training), said: ‘Introducing a cyber champion into the workplace will in itself raise awareness of online safety.
‘This is a really good opportunity for businesses to get free advice and training.
‘Cyber champions are putting procedures in place in their workplace to reduce their risk of becoming a victim’.
Forum member Trevor Humphreys, University of Wolverhampton in Stafford Centre Co-ordinator said: ‘We are delighted to have held a number of these training events here in Stafford and to be able to recognise the 100 th Cyber Champion in such a short space of time.
‘The University of Wolverhampton’s new Cyber security centre in Hereford will facilitate and support the development of cyber security on a global scale but it is equally important that we share knowledge to small businesses across the county’.
For more information about becoming a Cyber Champion in your workplace and sign up for future training sessions email: uwis.enquiries@wlc.ac.uk
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