Monday 25 July 2016

Businesses unaware of resources to defend against cyber attack

Businesses are missing out on crucial resources to help them defend against a cyber attack a survey by London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has found.

When asked about eight different government schemes designed to help protect against online attacks, just thirteen per cent of those surveyed had used any of the resources.

In every single case at least 65% were unaware of the existence of the scheme being mentioned and the highest uptake was nine per cent - in the case of Action Fraud.

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been working to raise awareness of the issue and resources available with its own Cyber Security Working Group - part of the LCCI Defence and Security Committee.

It has also called on the new Mayor, Sadiq Khan to raise the profile of the London Digital Security Centre to give London SMEs the support that they need to understand and defend against cyber threats.

A key part of the work needed could be done by the Chief Digital Officer that Mr Khan has pledged to appoint.

Chief Executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Colin Stanbridge said: "Cyber crime is still a relatively unknown quantity and what is quite clear from these findings is that the resources that exist to help business are also unknown.

"We need to encourage discussion and share advice in order that businesses can continue to grow without feeling under attack from cyber crime."

The survey was carried out by LCCI in partnership with ComRes and asked businesses whether they were aware of and had used the following schemes: Action Fraud, Cyber Streetwise, 10 Steps to Cyber Security guide, the London Digital Security Centre, the Cyber Security Information Sharing Partnership, 'Responsible for Information' e-learning course, the Cyber Essentials scheme and Innovation vouchers.

ENDS

Media contact
Katharine McGee
T: +44 (0)20 7203 1897
M: +44 (0)7827 241528
E: kmcgee@londonchamber.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR:

1. London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is the capital's largest and most representative business organisation, with members ranging in size from multi-national companies to SMEs and sole traders.
2. Colin Stanbridge, Chief Executive of LCCI, or Brett Lovegrove, Chair of the LCCI defence and security committee are available for further comment and interview.
3. ComRes surveyed 508 London business decision makers online between 16th May and 6th June 2016. Data were weighted to be representative of all London businesses by company size and broad industry sector. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Data tables are available at www.comresglobal.com