An innovative partnership between police, private sector and academia has launched in the South East region to help businesses protect themselves against cybercrime.
The South East Cyber Resilience Centre (SECRC), is part of a network of centres being established across the country to provide businesses and organisations, with an affordable way to access cyber security services and consultancy to help protect themselves from attack.
The SECRC offers a range a membership options depending on what level of support businesses in Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire need. The Core Membership is free and provides businesses with 50 or fewer employees, access to a range of resources and tools to help them identify their risks and vulnerabilities, as well as providing guidance on the steps they can take to increase their levels of protection.
The centre is headed up by a Director who is also a Detective Superintendent with the South East Organised Crime Unit.
Justin Torgout, who has taken on the Director role, has been in policing for over 25 year where he has worked across a diverse number of policing functions. An experienced Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), he has managed large scale investigations and is an accredited Kidnap & Extortion manager.
Justin said: “Having worked closely with the force Cyber Crime Unit in Hampshire, I have seen first-hand the significant threat that businesses across our region face from cyber criminals. I have also seen the damage a successful attack can do to businesses of all sizes from sole traders to multinational organisations. The SECRC team are committed to helping local business understand more about the threats they face and help them get better protected.
“The SECRC brings together the expertise of law enforcement, private industry and academia working together to deliver affordable services to help businesses mitigate their cyber security risks.
“We have already had a great response from businesses wanting to be involved with our Board and Advisory Group. We will be announcing more information on this soon. Our website is now live so businesses can find out more about how we can help them and sign up for one of our membership packages. The Core Membership is free and comes with a pack of practical guidance and information to help businesses identify their current risks and what they can do to mitigate against them. We hope lots of businesses will sign up."
The SECRC has been funded by the National Police Chiefs’ Council Cyber Crime Programme which secured £2million of Government funding to establish a network on CRCs across the country. The South East is the fifth region to go live.
Mandy Haeburn-Little CEO of BRIM who advise on establishing and developing the CRCs said: “This is a fundamental and very positive step by Policing and represents a new era for Cybercrime prevention where Policing will work hand in hand with private sector in the alignment of cyber strategies. This fulfils so many objectives together from supporting emerging student skills, delivery of Policing cybercrime objectives, support for all sectors of business and the focus for much needed assistance towards economic growth for business. It is a one stop shop for cyber resilience which we have worked very hard to develop with NPCC and the support of the Home office. “
Moving forwards the centre will generate income through the supply of a broad mix of products and services. The CRC is a not for profit organisation which means all revenue generated will be invested back into helping to keep businesses safe.
Businesses can now sign up for one of the SECRC memberships
