Why should I become an Ambassador for the National CRC Group?
Cyber resilience is (rightly so) moving up every organisation’s agenda and leaders are increasingly recognising its vital importance in helping to protect the day-to-day and future operations of their supply chain and customer base.
Becoming an NCRCG Ambassador is not just about ensuring cyber resilience within your own organisation; it is much more than that. It is about protecting your customers, supply chains and being at the forefront of positive change.
We are bringing together a group of National Ambassadors united by a shared ambition to prevent cybercrime to inform our research, thinking and approach, to ensure that the guidance and support we offer is of commercial and strategic use.
Our Ambassador programme offers an exciting opportunity to be part of the conversation around cyber security and resilience in the UK, taking part in our Steering Group working alongside representatives from policing, academia, government and industry.
You may be wondering: what do Ambassadors do? And what do I get out of it? This article will explore the varied benefits joining our Ambassador programme offers your business, and once you are convinced, you can register your interest through the form at the bottom of the page.
What do Ambassadors do?
As an Ambassador, you will form part of NCRCG’s Steering Group, where you will work alongside police, government and academia having strategic conversations on the landscape of cybersecurity in the UK, contributing to the national debate and driving activity by representing and promoting the aims of NCRCG.
The Steering Group will work to agree on a programme of activity to strengthen those areas of the supply chain that are most vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as well as lead on a range of themed projects relating to cyber resilience and facilitating engagement between the public, private and third sectors.
You will support the growth of the national Student Talent Pipeline, becoming part of the Network’s investment in the next generation of cyber experts. Our students benefit from contributing to a live workplace, working on real problems for the small business community and gaining valuable experience that will prepare them for the job market.
You will represent and support SMEs across the nation, strengthening their resilience to cyber threats and by extension strengthening supply chain resilience.
As an Ambassador you will be a champion for the NCRCG’s mission of boosting cyber resilience within your own organisation, community and industry, demonstrating your skills in leadership, innovative thinking and collaboration.
How will joining the Ambassador Programme benefit my business?
At a corporate level, there are four key areas of benefit to businesses joining our Ambassador programme:
- Commercial
- Risk
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Recruitment
Commercial
The commercial incentives focus on improving resilience both for your own organisation and the SME supply chain community. By ensuring SMEs have robust cyber resilience strategies in place, we allow them to compete in markets where strict vendor security requirements may have otherwise excluded them. Increased choice in supply chains also ensures that organisations have greater opportunities in cost, location and range from their suppliers, increasing their viability and competitiveness.
You will also be publicly showcasing your support for a government-backed initiative that benefits the entire UK business community, demonstrating your commitment to fortifying the Nation’s digital economy and benefiting from the positive reputation of the Group’s mission.
Risk
While our Ambassadors are generally larger organisations drawn from a variety of industries, we know that many of your clients, suppliers and customers will be SMEs themselves. It is therefore in your commercial interests to mitigate the risks in your supply chain, ensure buoyancy of your customers, and protect the UK economy. SMEs account for 99.9% of the business population so, it is essential for the economy that these organisations are given the tools they need to remain operational during times of online disruption.
Additionally, the interconnected nature of business technology means that if an organisation in your supply chain suffers a cyber-attack, you may also be at risk. Therefore, helping to bolster the defences of SMEs makes the UK digital economy, more resilient to crime.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Those that wish to join this exclusive first cadre of partners and be a part of this unique opportunity from the outset are being asked to consider a financial contribution. This contribution will be supporting the Regional CRCs (Cyber Resilience Centres) in moving towards a self-sustaining model over the coming 12 months, whilst respecting their independent leadership and regional strategies. Additionally, funding will support the creation of a centralised route for the development of our national Talent Pipeline. Your contribution will also be met with additional funding from government and the police, further increasing the impact of your support. This can form part of your organisation’s social responsibility activity, as you are supporting training young people, protecting small businesses, and strengthening supply chains across the UK.
Recruitment
Our Student Talent Pipeline gives invaluable experience to the cyber security professionals of the future by placing them in a live work environment to support and advise SMEs on real cyber security problems. This unique opportunity selects brilliant students from local universities to work alongside senior Cyber Security Practitioners to deliver high-quality and tailored cyber resilience services to smaller organisations.
By investing in training this next generation, you ensure that your business and others across the UK will have the supply of labour needed to ensure ongoing cyber safety in the future, safeguarding our economy for years to come. Your organisation, as an NCRCG Ambassador, will also have access to the Talent Pipeline, giving you a direct line to the best emerging talents in the labour pool and ensuring your business continues to lead by example in cyber resilience.
What are you waiting for?
Show your support and help us drive a commitment to cyber resilience throughout the UK economy. Become an Ambassador today.