Table of Contents
UK businesses have primarily moved from paperwork and filing cabinets to computers and cloud storage in the last few decades. An increasing number of cyber attacks on UK companies has accompanied this change. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that all UK organisations should take proactive measures to guard against cyber attacks and keep data secure. This article will consider how cyber awareness training can help your organisation guard against cyber intrusion.
What Is the General Data Protection Regulation?
The UK GDPR is the main piece of UK data protection legislation. The law clarifies that all UK businesses should proactively safeguard personal information. Amongst other things, it is mainly concerned with ensuring UK organisations adequately meet the following obligations:
- obtain personal information lawfully and appropriately;
- securely store and protect personal data; and
- handle personal information proportionately.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is an independent body that policies data protection in the UK. The ICO website provides various guides on GDPR compliance, including articles referencing good cyber security practices. Your business should be aware of ICO guidance because the ICO can fine UK organisations up to £17.5m for non-compliance with the GDPR.
What Are the Main Cyber Security Threats Against My Business?
Currently, many UK businesses experience various attempted cyber attacks each week. The most common include:
- attempted ransomware attacks: these aim to infiltrate your computer system and encrypt the data, so you cannot access it. The cybercriminals will then demand a ransom payment (usually a high sum payable in cryptocurrency) to ‘unlock it’. Thousands of UK businesses fold each year because of the impact or cost of a ransomware attack; or
- attempted data breaches: the primary purpose of a data breach attack is to access and steal personal information unlawfully. Most cybercriminals will then utilise this data themselves (to assist identity theft) or sell it to other third parties. Many UK businesses suffer ICO fines and massive reputational damage after suffering data breach attacks.
The UK Government and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) currently provide stringent warnings about the increasing threat of cyber attacks against UK businesses. Many cyber criminals intentionally target UK companies because of the potential treasure trove of information within their computer systems.
LegalVision’s Buying a Business: Guide to Negotiating Terms allows you to protect yourself by understanding which key terms to negotiate when buying a business.
Call 0808 196 8584 for urgent assistance.
Otherwise, complete this form and we will contact you within one business day.
How Can Cyber Awareness Training Help?
One main way to defend against something is to understand how it works. In this way, many bodies (including the NCSC) strongly advise UK companies to provide cyber awareness training to staff regularly.
What does GDPR awareness training usually entail? Most GDPR training courses will focus on some of the following:
- identifying ‘phishing’ emails (messages from scammers pretending to be from a trustworthy source, such as Microsoft);
- guarding against opening files or clicking on links unless certain it is genuine;
- the most appropriate steps to take when suspicious of an email, document or website link; and
- ways to reduce the risk of malicious software (such as asking a colleague in the IT team to scan any USB stick or digital storage device for viruses before plugging it into a work laptop).
Cyber awareness courses’ main aim is to encourage staff to proactively consider the risks of specific actions and know the best individual to contact with any concerns. As a business owner, you would prefer your team to be overly cautious than exposing your company to cyber threats.
Why Is It So Important to Guard Against Cyber Threats?
There are several reasons why your business must pay attention to the importance of cyber security. The most important examples include the following points:
- the ICO regularly provide financial penalties (of up to £17.5m) to businesses that suffer cyber attacks that you could have prevented with appropriate cyber planning;
- your business should inform all individuals of any potential data loss and, in doing so, suffers reputational harm and likely loss of custom;
- your company will likely suffer a substantial loss of income through the cost and disruption caused by dealing with the cyber attack.
Key Takeaways
Providing cyber awareness training to your staff annually is an essential prevention technique against cyber attacks. Naturally, your company must also put other cyber defences in place (such as encryption, strong password use and two-factor authentication). In this way, you should not simply train staff and avoid other measures, as this would be akin to fitting super secure windows but not locking your front door.
Many business owners utilise expert lawyers for advice on cyber security measures to protect their businesses and comply with the GDPR.
If you need help with cyber awareness tasks and GDPR compliance, our experienced Data, Privacy and IT lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
UK law requires your business to inform customers of a cyber attack where their personal data may have been accessed or stolen.
Phishing emails involve a malicious actor sending emails or text messages to your business that impersonalise another person or company. A phishing email aims to obtain sensitive information from your company through a fake website or virus-laden email link.
We appreciate your feedback – your submission has been successfully received.
