The latest UK Cyber Resilience Centre to begin setting up has been announced as West Midlands. Joining centres in East Midlands, Greater Manchester, North East England and Yorkshire, the Cyber Resilience Centre [CRC] Network is expanding ahead of schedule in response to growing risk amidst COVID-19.
Working in close partnership with the National Police Chief’s Council [NPCC] the BRIM team has adapted the programme schedule, enabling a network of communications to emerge whilst each centre’s governance structure is being established. Existing centres will support any service requests until each one has its full structure in place.
This amended schedule focuses on communications, supporting the distribution of critical cyber security guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre. The NCSC, part of GCHQ, has seen cybercrime spike rapidly during lockdown, with COVID-19 related scams putting critical supply chain businesses at risk.
Joanna Goddard, Director of Programmes commented:
“By enabling local communications for each centre earlier, more SMEs can access affordable services, free guidance from NCSC and educational webinars. This will enable them to support furloughed staff cyber awareness training whilst in lockdown to improve preparedness for return to work. It’s been a big task to pivot the schedule as we work so closely with Policing, who are clearly stretched at this time. However, their focus and commitment to protect businesses from cybercrime has been exceptional.”
Business Resilience International Management (BRIM) is engaged by law enforcement in the UK to advise on establishing and developing Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs) for business. The Cyber Resilience Centre network was due to establish 10 centres in full by Spring 2021.
A CRC provides relevant regional resources and protection for businesses, third sector organisations and communities in the digital era. It creates and implements proven solutions using trusted and best-practice information from law enforcement and government.
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