Merseyside businesses urged to boost cyber security as awareness month launches at Anfield
Merseyside Police says small firms are increasingly being targeted by cyber criminals
Businesses across Merseyside are being urged to take advantage of free cyber security advice as police launch a month of activities aimed at protecting firms from online crime.
Merseyside Police's Cybercrime Unit kicked off Cyber Security Awareness Month with an event at Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium on Tuesday.
The Cyber Connect event was organised with Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell.
It brought together representatives from the public and private sectors to look at the latest cyber risks.
They also heard about the support available to help organisations improve their cyber resilience.
Presentations came from cyber security professionals and practitioners.
Detective Sergeant Darren Devonport shared insights from real-life ransomware and insider threat investigations.
Delegates also heard from Paul Benson of the North West Cyber Resilience Centre and Ben Sefton of Insightful AI.
They spoke about cyber security support, and the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence.
A key feature of the day was an interactive cyber-attack simulation led by cyber resilience specialist Jenny Lam.
It challenged participants to experience how an attack can affect every part of an organisation.
Small businesses in the spotlight
The month-long programme is focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which continue to account for a significant proportion of cybercrime reports nationally.
Latest figures show SMEs made up 62% of organisational reports where business size was known.
Organisations with fewer than 50 employees accounted for 45% of reports.
Merseyside Police said it is also seeing a national rise in the suspected criminal use of artificial intelligence, which is reflected locally.
Detective Sergeant Danny Gavin from the force's Cybercrime Unit said:
"Cybercrime is not just a concern for large organisations. Small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly impacted by cybercrime due to lesser established cyber security practices."
"Cyber Security Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to engage directly with organisations across Merseyside, share practical advice and help them build resilience against evolving threats such as ransomware and AI-enabled cybercrime."
Detective Sergeant Gavin added:
"One of the strongest messages from today's event was that cyber security is a business-wide responsibility. Technology alone is not enough. Successful organisations combine good technical controls, well-trained staff, and clear incident response plans."
"By working together with partners and businesses across Merseyside, we can make it harder for cybercriminals to succeed."
How ransomware attacks happen
Police said ransomware remains one of the most disruptive cyber threats facing organisations.
Criminals often gain access through phishing emails or unpatched systems before encrypting files and stealing data.
The National Cyber Security Centre recommends:
- maintaining secure offline backups
- applying security updates promptly
- using multi-factor authentication wherever possible
Support available for businesses
Businesses that did not attend the event are reminded that support is available throughout the year.
SMEs can access free cyber security advice and training through Merseyside Police's Cybercrime Unit and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Merseyside Police is also encouraging organisations to:
work towards Cyber Essentials certification, the government-backed programme designed to help organisations defend against common cyber threats through five key technical controls
contact the North West Cyber Resilience Centre, which offers free membership, training and fully funded regional support programmes for SMEs
register for Police Cyber Alarm, the free police-backed service that helps organisations identify vulnerabilities and understand suspicious activity targeting their networks
Police and Crime Commissioner's message
Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:
"Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing threats facing businesses and organisations today, and the reality is that no organisation is immune."
"As technology continues to evolve, so do the tactics used by criminals. From ransomware attacks to increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled scams, it is essential that organisations of all sizes take steps to strengthen their cyber resilience."
"By working together, sharing information and building strong partnerships, we can help organisations stay one step ahead of cyber criminals, protect the services people rely on and ensure Merseyside remains a safe and secure place to live, work and do business."
How to report cybercrime
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of cybercrime or fraud can report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Anyone with information about those committing cybercrime or fraud can pass it on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.