New partnership to help SMEs tackle cyber-crime

Russell Scanlan has joined forces with Berea, a Leicestershire based cyber security management and training business, to help equip SMEs in the battle against cyber-crime.

Local business owners and managers will gain access to training and resources to help identify and mitigate the risks of cyber-crime. According to a survey by KPMG 60 per cent of small businesses surveyed had experienced a cyber breach which also resulted in loss of clients and the ability to win new business.

Andy Jenkins, at Russell Scanlan, said: “Cyber-crime is a modern day plague. The threat hangs over every business large and small which is why it is so important to take steps and ring fence any potential risks that threaten an organisation. One of the biggest threats to companies is inertia.

“Businesses are not keeping pace with the rapid expansion of technology which is leaving them exposed to financial liabilities. Our alliance with Berea will help clients identify where they are vulnerable, and how to take action to plan against cyber-crime and protect their businesses.”

A north Nottinghamshire haulage/logistics company suffered uninsured losses of nearly £250,000 in 2014 after failing to identify a phishing email. According to Andy Jenkins at Russell Scanlan that amount of financial losses could ‘spell a death knell for many SMEs’.

Aaron Yates, founder and CEO of Berea, said: “Many firms perceive cyber security as similar to Pandora’s Box. This needn’t be the case if the right people in a business have appropriate knowledge and can ask the right questions. In joining forces, clients of Russell Scanlan will have preferential access to our unique web-based cyber education and audit platform, Cyber AMI, and further products and services that simplify this field of risk management.”