News

ARU is helping protect region from cyber-crime

Government funding allows ARU to support businesses across East of England

UK Government funding means businesses across the East of England can contact Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) for advice and support to help protect themselves from cyber-crime.

Experts from ARU are working in partnership with the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit and Essex Police to examine the vulnerabilities and cyber-security practices of the region’s small and medium-sized businesses and organisations. The year-long project is supported by funding from the National Cyber Security Programme, via the Home Office.

The widespread nature of the problem was highlighted by a Government survey released this year, which showed that almost half of all UK businesses (46%) and a quarter of all charities (26%) had reported cyber-security breaches or attacks in the previous 12 months. Since that survey was carried out, an increase in remote working is likely to have put further strain on already stretched IT systems.

The project, which is being led by Dr Christian Kemp and Adrian Winckles, is bringing together ARU’s specialisms in cyber-criminology, digital policing, and cyber-security and technology.

Adrian is a Senior Lecturer in Computing and Information Science, and the Director of ARU's Cyber Security and Networking Research Group, while Dr Kemp is Course Leader for the BA (Hons) in Criminology and Policing, and has researched Dark Web networks and new patterns of online human trafficking.

Dr Kemp said:

 

“Cyber-crime is one of the biggest types of crime in the UK and continues to grow in sophistication. UK businesses face a constant battle to protect both themselves and their customers from the relentless threat of attack.

“Unfortunately, we are seeing that many businesses still fail to recognise the risks. We hope this 12-month project, which rests within the national ‘Cyber Protect’ initiative, will help to inform businesses and organisations across the East of England about the various threats and their own vulnerabilities.”

 

Small and medium-sized businesses based in Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire are encouraged to contact [email protected] for more information about the Cyber Protect network and details of the support and training available, including a free cyber health check.