With Cyber Security Awareness Month firmly underway, the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG) has proudly welcomed CyberSmart on board as a National Ambassador.
Funded and supported by the Home Office, policing and Ambassador business partners, NCRCG is bringing together all those who have a vital responsibility for combating cybercrime to help strengthen the cyber defences of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The organisation forms part of the Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) network alongside nine, regional and police-led Centres, which engage directly with the SMEs in their localities.
A leading cybersecurity specialist, CyberSmart is perfectly placed to join the ranks of NCRCG’s National Ambassador Programme. With over 1,000 Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and over 6,000 SME customers in the UK, it is primed to act as an enabler to this crucial sector within the digital economy.
In partnering with NCRCG, CyberSmart will empower MSPs and SMEs around cyber resilience and signpost the support offered by the CRC network and the national technical authority, NCSC.
SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, making up around half of the turnover in the UK private sector. As a result, SMEs must be made aware of the need to protect themselves and the steps they can take, as well as the value of cybersecurity. CRCs provide vital resources and advice for SMEs, making cyber resilience accessible to everyone, even those with limited in-house IT resources or knowledge.
As seasoned industry experts, CyberSmart will also be using its platform as a National Ambassador to share its wealth of cybersecurity knowledge and research with SMEs across the country, including through NCRCG’s CyberVersed podcast series.
Jamie Akhtar, CEO of CyberSmart, said:
“At CyberSmart, we’re proud to join NCRCG as National Ambassadors. Our mission to support, educate and empower UK SMEs, and the MSPs that serve them, on the importance of cybersecurity aligns with that of NCRCG. Whereas many advanced cybersecurity solutions primarily cater to enterprises, SMEs are often underserved, lacking affordable access and dedicated support, despite being major targets. Through initiatives like the UK government Cyber Essentials scheme, we’re able to help establish a baseline security standard for SMEs, which is crucial for supply chain integrity. As SMEs find themselves targeted more heavily by cybercriminals, it is essential that we educate and support these critical organisations.”
Joanna Goddard, Chief Experience Officer at NCRCG, said:
“CyberSmart is a fantastic asset to our National Ambassador cohort and, with the organisation’s links to Managed Service Providers in particular, will enable us to tap into a sector which plays a critical role in contributing to the UK’s cyber resilience.
“Millions of small and medium-sized businesses across the country rely on the IT support and advice provided to them by their MSPs, however many are still not benefiting from any cyber security support which is a significant missing piece of the puzzle. It is therefore essential that we raise awareness amongst MSPs of the CRC network and where their customers can go for additional, police-backed help.
“We are so pleased to be working with CyberSmart on this and to be welcoming them on board at such an opportune moment in the cyber security calendar.”
