Almost half of businesses at major NI seminar don’t have a properly tested cyber security strategy

Over 100 guests attended a cyber security and fraud event hosted by Barclays Bank Plc and Grant Thornton in partnership with CBI.Government Opportunities

An interactive survey carried out at a major cyber security and fraud awareness seminar in Belfast has revealed that 49% of the private and public sector businesses in attendance do not have a properly tested plan in place for dealing with a cyber security attack.

Hosted by Barclays Bank Plc and Grant Thornton, in partnership with CBI, the breakfast event also revealed that 30% of companies do not have a fully approved cyber security strategy, while 63% believe that Northern Ireland should have its own overarching cyber security strategy.

With organisations across the globe urging their employees, suppliers and customers to take action against malicious software and data breaches, the seminar examined how businesses can understand the current cyber threats and develop a coherent and cost-effective response.

Among the panel of expert speakers addressing the audience was Mike Harris, Partner at Grant Thornton, Alex Grant, Managing Director of Fraud Risk Management, Barclays Bank Plc, Emma Collins, Principal Policy Adviser at CBI, and Douglas Grant, Detective Chief Inspector, PSNI.

Mike Harris, Cyber Security Partner at Grant Thornton, commented:

“As revealed by Grant Thornton’s International Business Report at the end of last year, cybercrime is costing the Northern Ireland economy almost £100m each year. It’s absolutely vital, therefore, that SMEs and large corporates alike develop a structured approach to implementing cyber security controls and processes.

This breakfast seminar provided Grant Thornton with the opportunity to help businesses understand the level and nature of the cyber security threats they face and for us to provide the audience with practical tips and pragmatic advice on how to defend their organisations from the threat of a cyber-attack.”

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