Businesses offered helping hand to deal with threat of cyber crime

Jim Hawkins of cyber-security firm C3IA Solutions

Charities and small businesses in the South West are being offered free cyber security advice and support.

Dorset-headquartered C3IA Solutions is offering business help towards gaining Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials-Plus certification, the minimum standards recommended by the government.

The free engineering and support is being funded through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and IASME, the accreditation body for the Cyber Essentials Scheme.

C3IA Solutions, which is based in Poole, is assured by the NCSC and an IASME accredited certification body and has helped over 150 regional organisations to become more cyber-secure.

Small businesses and charities continue to come under attack from cyber criminals with reports that 31 per cent of businesses and 26 per cent of charities estimate they were attacked at least once a week.

One in five businesses and charities said they experienced a negative outcome as a direct consequence of a cyber-attack, while more than a third of businesses and almost four in ten charities experienced at least one negative impact.

Jim Hawkins, from C3IA Solutions, said: “This support is aimed at small charities and legal-aid providers because we know that they provide valuable services to society but may not have the resources or expertise needed.

“We are hoping that these type of organisations in Dorset will make the most of the engineering and cyber support offered.

“In many cases the 20 hours will be enough for the organisation to gain their Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certificates.

“These give a basic level of protection and are recommended by the government. If 20 hours isn’t enough then we can get the organisation as far as we can.

“To check if an organisation qualifies for the free cyber-security they need to contact us.”

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