A Staffordshire business is the first to become Cyber Savvy with a new designated champion in their workplace.
Prizm solutions, of Tamworth, will be the first company to sign up for the new initiative, which has been launched by Staffordshire’s Online Fraud Forum – a partnership of local business and public sector organisations chaired by Sue Arnold, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire.
The free training gives Staffordshire businesses the chance to get cyber savvy and stay one step ahead of online fraudsters, with designated workplace champions.
Speaking about the initiative, Sue Arnold said: “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. The new 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!”
Last year, online fraud and cybercrime was estimated to have cost £11 billion pounds and fraudsters are increasingly targeting businesses large and small.
Managing Director of Prizm Solutions, Peter Robinson, said: “Everyone runs the risk of cybercrime and if un-detected it can put companies out of business. As a member of the Online Fraud Forum I thought it essential that my employees are aware of the risks and can only encourage others to take advantage of this free training and ongoing support.”
Cybercrime is swiftly becoming the most damaging crime a victim can experience. Millions of pounds of money and reams of sensitive data are stolen every year and a lot of this can be prevented with some simple actions.
The training, which is due to begin in early summer, will be delivered by Staffordshire’s Digital Police Community Support Officer and members of the fraud forum.
PCSO Matthew Hough-Clewes is one of less than 10 throughout the UK and took on the role to protect the public and businesses from online fraud in December last year. “I have visited a number of groups and organisations, showing them how to protect themselves online and not be tricked into giving away information to the wrong people. I’m really excited about this new Cyber Champion initiative and look forward to helping businesses in Staffordshire improve their cyber security.”
Prizm Solutions Office Manager Julie Pound signed up to become the County’s first Cyber Champion in the workplace. “We do a lot of our business online and it is important that we make sure we are secure. It’s a bit daunting to know these criminals deliberately try to dupe us out of money or steal our intelligence, so I am looking forward to sharing information to stop them in their tracks.”
For more information about becoming a Cyber Champion in your workplace email: pcc@staffordshire.pcc.pnn.gov.uk
