Are small businesses making themselves vulnerable to cyber criminals?

A major research programme aimed at exploring the impact of cyber crime on small and medium-sized businesses in the East Midlands has been launched.

The two-year initiative will be led by researchers from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)’s Psychology department, as part of the East Midlands Police Academic Partnership (EMPAC).

The consortium, which includes East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), East Midlands Police and local cyber security experts, will explore how risky behaviours by employees can impact attitudes towards cybercrime.

It is hoped that a better understanding of such information will help businesses and police to develop better methods of protection against cyber crime, as well as giving SMEs a better awareness of current threats and issues.



Dr Lee Hadlington, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology and Cyberpsychology at DMU, said: “This type of work is critical if we are to gain a better understanding of how businesses are viewing cyber crime and also develop strategies to help communicate the current threats in an effective and useable manner.

“By establishing enhanced collaborative links between business, the Police and academic researchers can we make sure every enterprise, irrespective of size, is better supported when tackling the threat from cyber crime.”

The project will help support firms to provide better training for their employees, along with boosting their understanding of the types of cyber crimes currently being committed.

It is hoped the research will also lead to greater collaboration between academia, business and law enforcement to help prevent future attacks.

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Andy Watterson, the Chamber’s Business Crime Manager, said: “Cyber crime is a huge and rapidly growing threat to businesses of all sizes, which makes increasing awareness of cyber security and its importance to local businesses an urgent priority.

“The Chamber has already hosted a number of seminars across the region as part of an ongoing events programme aimed at equipping local businesses with the information and knowledge they need to protect themselves online.

“This research is a key piece of work which the Chamber is delighted to be involved in and supporting. We will continue to work closely with our university, police and information security partners to push this agenda forward.”

Detective Sergeant Carole Walton, East Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Protect Coordinator, said: “Cyber crime is recognised as a growing issue nationally and all five police forces within the East Midlands are involved in cyber crime investigations, with larger investigations led by the Regional Cyber Crime Unit within the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.

“Initiatives such as this are important to develop our knowledge of this area of criminality to better prevent and support victims of cyber crime. We are all vulnerable to cyber crime and better understanding of what makes us vulnerable, as individuals and businesses, helps to tailor prevention programmes to counter the rise of these crimes”

Businesses can take the survey online here and are being encouraged to share the link throughout their organisations to ensure the overall results reflect responses from all levels of seniority and understanding.