The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (ECRC) is delighted to announce details of a trio of advisory group (AG) members.
The ECRC is part of a police-led network of centres being established across the country that provide businesses and organisations, with an affordable way to access cyber security services and guidance to help safeguard themselves from attack.
The advisory group will provide the ECRC with guidance, advice and will influence its direction. The first of the newly appointed members are university lecturer Dr Christian Kemp, Darren Chapman of CyberScale and Denise Rossiter from the Essex Chambers of Commerce.
Welcoming the new additions to the centre is Detective Superintendent Paul Lopez, director of the ECRC. He said: “We are delighted to have Dr Kemp and representatives from CyberScale and the Essex Chambers of Commerce joining the organisation. The wealth of knowledge and expertise they will offer to users of the ECRC’s services is invaluable. Working side by side with AG members will help us raise further awareness among business owners and leaders and to encourage them take into serious consideration the importance cyber resilience plays in their success.”
Dr Christian Kemp is a criminology lecturer specialising in the fields of cybercrime, cyber resilience and vulnerability, human trafficking and European migration policy, and both traditional and digital policing methods.
Christian also works closely with regional and local police forces to support the safeguarding of businesses and the reinforcement of their cyber resilience. His previous research has explored the inner workings of dark web networks and patterns of modern slavery online.
Christian said: “Cyber security is often thought of as a complex and expensive luxury that’s only applicable and accessible to big-name firms turning over multi-million-pound figures. This couldn’t be further from the truth and is a huge part of why I’m now affiliated with the ECRC - to help change perceptions.
“Cybercriminals are on the hunt for data and will do so by any means possible and unfortunately, it’s smaller, local businesses that are falling foul of basic protective measures and suffering irreparable damage. By sharing my insights and wide-ranging experience through the ECRC. I hope will be of great support for businesses in the region.”
Fellow AG member Darren Chapman is the owner-director and principal security consultant of CyberScale, a specialist in cyber and information security consultancy and training. Darren has been working in the IT and security industry for over 20 years and holds lead auditor status for the international standard for information security (ISO27001), as well as being a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and qualified Cyber Essentials Assessor.
Darren adopts a pragmatic, risk-based approach to provide businesses and organisation with effective cyber and information security strategies. Speaking about his new position with the ECRC, he said: “I am really pleased to be part of the advisory group for the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre, as the work it is doing to guide businesses with best practice cyber measures is crucial, particularly in the SME space.
“According to government statistics, the average cost to businesses that fall victim to a cyber breach is more than £8,000, which paints a pretty stark picture of how treacherous it is for micro business and SMEs to survive in the ever-evolving digital world. I look forward to working with the team and its members to use our experience to help to ensure a more secure and resilient future for the East of England’s economy.”
As the CEO of the Essex Chambers of Commerce, Denise Rossiter has spearheaded initiatives that have brought its business community, Essex Police and the county’s police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) in closer alignment in order to tackle crimes against businesses.
“We have a vision to ensure that every business in the area has access to cyber security services,” Denise explains. “The cold, hard truth is that cyberattacks are on the rise and a primary objective of the Essex Chambers of Commerce involvement with the ECRC is to help effectively disseminate easy to follow cyber security information.
“Engaging with business decision makers and highlighting the simplest vulnerabilities to recognise and eliminate is the first step. Businesses and our economy will struggle to withstand the ferocity at which these criminals operate if we take our foot off the gas, but we are determined that we can assist with supporting successful futures for our business community.”
The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre offers a range of free and affordable membership packages, which include access guidance, tools and affordable services to help better protect themselves against the threat of cybercrime.