SPONSORED EDITORIAL

Nearly half of British businesses had at least one cyber-security breach or attack in the last year, according to government research.

So what businesses should be doing to protect themselves?

Cyber-security is an increasingly significant issue for many businesses.

In an age where a vast quantity of personal data is collected, stored and processed electronically, the importance of securing data from cyber-crime should not be underestimated or ignored.

If you do not make sure your business is protected against cyber-crime, there could be a number of serious consequences.

These include reputational damage or fines for breaching data protection laws.

Data protection laws will soon become even tougher.

The Data Protection Act 1998 currently regulates the control and processing of personal data in the UK but from May 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force.

This will impose even more onerous standards on organisations that control or process personal data.

Law firm Brachers is holding a free breakfast event about cyber crime at the Hilton Hotel in Maidstone on Tuesday, June 13

With the impending implementation of the GDPR, all businesses should now be looking at their current practices, processes and contracts to assess whether they are compliant and whether they are adequately safeguarding their organisation from the risk of cyber-crime.

The steps needed to avoid cyber risks may seem overwhelming.

Organisations often imagine that managers need to be IT experts before they can tackle the challenges faced.

However, there are some straightforward steps which can be taken and that have the potential to substantially reduce business vulnerability.

Getting the basics in place can help to effectively reduce the risk.

These include:

• Raising employee awareness through training
• Ensuring there are clear policies and procedures in place, including IT and social media policies, linking to disciplinary policies
• Including clear obligations in employment contracts to follow company protocols and maintain confidentiality of commercially sensitive data

Phishing scams rely on individuals being taken in by bonus communications. It will help if employees are told to look out for emails which do not sound as if they are written by the individual they are supposed to be from.

They should also thoroughly check details before any money is transferred to a third party.

In essence, employees need to know what to look out for and be aware of their own responsibilities.

And it is an employer’s job to help them do that.

These are all issues that we will discuss and debate at a free breakfast event Brachers is jointly hosting at the Hilton Hotel in Maidstone on Tuesday, June 13.

Register at brachers.co.uk/register.

If you have any queries regarding cyber-crime please contact Catherine Daw, head of employment at Brachers, on 01622 655291 or email catherinedaw@brachers.co.uk

You can also contact Erol Huseyin, corporate and commercial partner, on 01622 776519 or email erolhuseyin@brachers.co.uk