A new cyber-crime guide for employee training has been unveiled by CyberScotland, free to download by any Scottish organisation and its staff.
The online resource is a comprehensive explanation of the most common cyber-attacks and how to avoid falling victim to them. It also provides instructions on developing secure passwords and protecting accounts.
Ethical hackers at the Scottish Business Resilience Centre developed the guide for the CyberScotland Partnership following an announcement earlier this year from the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).
In a statement, the ICO said that anyone with access to data should receive cyber awareness training within 30 days of starting a new job and before being given access to any databases. The ICO also said training should be ongoing for all employees.
The latest Police Scotland figures show the number of victims hit by cyber-crime in Scotland has reached a record high, nearly doubling in 2021-22 from 2019-20.
Jude McCorry, Chair of the CyberScotland Partnership, commented: “Our new guide is a must-have for any organisation serious about their cyber security. It’s an ideal add-on to staff induction packs, not only to help businesses comply with the ICO’s requirements but also make people more aware of what cyber threats exist and how to spot them.”
In March this year, the UK Government warned businesses and charities across the country to strengthen their cybersecurity practices due to a substantial increase in cyberattacks.
According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022 report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the frequency of cyberattacks is rising, though the number of businesses which experienced an attack or breach remained the same as 2021 levels.
The report found that 30% of charities and 39% of businesses reported cybersecurity breaches or attacks over that previous 12-month period.
McCorry added: “Cyber-crime is arguably one of the most pressing issues for businesses today, with the latest numbers showing instances in Scotland are reaching record levels. However, all the security in the world isn’t enough if your employees aren’t confident about how to keep information secure.
“This guide has been created with the cyber amateur in mind; it is easily digestible and uses only non-technical language.”
The CyberScotland Partnership was formed in February 2021 in response to the need for clarity around cyber security for individuals and businesses.
Funded by the Scottish Government, it is a collaboration between 16 organisations including ScotlandIS, the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, with the UK National Cyber Security Centre serving as technical advisor.
The new cyber-crime guide is available now on the CyberScotland Partnership’s website here.
Source: DIGIT