Cyber Aware campaign to help keep you secure online

We’re all spending more time online both for work and in our personal lives than ever before, but so are cybercriminals.

Whilst the increased use of emails, online payments, virtual meetings, and improved access to loans and innovation grants has brought huge benefits to operating online as a business, the risk of falling victim to cybercriminals has increased.

Your online security is just as important as the physical security of your office or using a garage for your car at home. No matter how small you perceive your businesses to be, you are a valuable target to cybercriminals.

That is why today, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have launched the next step of their Cyber Aware campaign – a cross-government campaign designed to help keep us all secure online. The campaign is delivered in partnership with Cabinet Office, Home Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

Six practical actions that will help protect your business from the majority of the most common cyber attacks run through the heart of the Cyber Aware campaign (download PDF).

1. Use a strong and separate password for your email

2. Create strong passwords using 3 random words

3. Save your passwords in your browser

4. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)

5. Update your devices

6. Back up your data

If you’re self-employed or run a small business with less than 10 employees, implementing this guidance will make it harder for criminals to access your accounts and the critical information that keeps your business running.

Here at the Cyber Resilience Centre for Greater Manchester, we encourage you to visit the CyberAware campaign to find out more about the steps, you can take to protect your business online today.

The Cyber Aware protective behaviours should be the first step in your cybersecurity journey – whether you’re looking to protect yourself or your business online.

If the businesses you work with are ready to take their online security to the next level, the NCSC has a range of cybersecurity advice to help build businesses cyber resilience.

The Cyber Resilience Centre also offers businesses free Core Membership which is full of practical resources and tools that will help you identify your risks and vulnerabilities and the steps you can take to increase your levels of protection. Through your membership, you will also get regular updates on new threats, designed to help you stay safer.