WIREDGOV

Small and medium-sized businesses are being urged to check their readiness for cyber attacks by taking a new resilience test, launched by Business in the Community (BITC) yesterday.

• ‘Would You Be Ready’ campaign, supported by NCSC, launched yesterday
• Online test checks small businesses’ resilience to cyber attacks, civil unrest and flooding
• Small businesses urged to follow advice in NCSC’s Small Business Guide

The ‘Would You Be Ready?’ online test asks business leaders an array of questions to assess their preparedness for various incidents, and gives tips on how to safeguard their assets.

The test focuses on three of the biggest issues that could affect businesses: cyber attacks – featuring advice from the NCSC’s Small Business Guide – civil unrest and flooding.

With the new campaign launching to coincide with Responsible Business Week 2018, BITC – founded by The Prince of Wales – is challenging SMEs across the UK to test their resilience in the face of an emergency.

Alison Whitney, the NCSC’s Director for Engagement, said:

“We know that cyber security can feel daunting for SMEs, but the good news is that by following some simple, quick and low-cost steps you can shield your business from most online attacks.

“Having strong passwords, backing up data and taking steps to avoid phishing attacks should be as second nature to a small firm as cashing up or locking the doors at night.

“Whether you own a bakery, a building firm or you sell products online, by taking the ‘Would You Be Ready?’ resilience test and following our advice you can avoid the common cyber attacks that can cost your time, money and reputation.”

Joey Tabone, BITC Resilience Director, said:

“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, and the impact that an issue or crisis could have on a small or medium business is significant, with potentially life-changing consequences for owners and employees, as well as having a negative effect on the economy.

“We are urging SME owners across the UK to take the test and use BITC’s free advice to scrutinise their own business practices to ensure they’re protected against future incidents that could put their business, and their livelihoods, in jeopardy”.

Small and medium businesses make up 99.9% of all businesses in the UK, and employ 16.1 million people, or 60% of the country’s private employment.

However, almost half (43%) of British SMEs admit to having no business continuity, disaster recovery or crisis management plans in place, despite almost the same number of UK businesses (46%) suffering at least one cyber security breach or attack.

To take the test and for advice on increasing the resilience of SMEs, visit: https://www.tradingforgood.co.uk/would-you-be-ready/.