Partnerships...

Last week, the National Cyber Security Centre published its latest Annual Review. While the report understandably focuses heavily on the strategic threats facing the UK, it’s encouraging to see such a strong reference to partnerships throughout the document - which lays the foundations for better joined-up working across Government, academia and industry in tackling the threats from cyber-crime.

Of course, the Cyber Resilience Centre for London couldn't reach anywhere the near the number of businesses it has so far without working in partnership with others. These partnerships are crucial in building trust with small businesses and ultimately, in achieving our vision of making London the safest City in the world to do business online.

Naturally, partnership working featured heavily last week as we continued our Community Outreach programme with visits to Fleet Street, Monument and Muswell Hill in what proved to be an incredibly busy 7 days:

On Monday, our Marketing Manager, Tierney Kimmins-McLoughlin and I, had an in-depth discussion about the focus of our marketing activity for the next 6 months. With 86% of businesses in London having fewer than 9 staff (and 77% of those being sole traders), it makes sense to be more targeted within this demographic of London’s SME community rather than adopt a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. This is backed up by the data we're collecting through our Community Outreach programme which consistently shows that’s where we have the biggest impact. It also ties in neatly with our new-look website too.

Incidentally, speaking of impact, I did a bit of a calculation last week (back of a fag packet type calculation rather than anything scientific) about the impact we’re having with the businesses we meet. If we visit (as expected) 2,500 businesses by the end of December and 40% of those businesses implement the simple control measures that NCSC suggest (which is what we’re currently seeing), then using Government data around the cost of a cyber breach or attack, I reckon we would have saved London’s economy ￡1 Million from cyber-crime this year. That’s not a bad return on investment. Obviously we need to do a bit more work on this, but it's a good start.

On Tuesday, the Community Outreach team started the first of two Digital Security Clinics in partnership with the Fleet Street Quarter Business Improvement District (BID). This is where we position ourselves in the entrance of a busy multi-occupied office building rather than go door-to-door. We were joined by our volunteers Muhibir and Mohammed who both did an excellent job in what proved to be a very busy day for the team.

Also on Tuesday, I met with Kevin Bailey who will be working closely with Kevin Isaac and Beatrice on the setting up of our Industry Advisory Council. Both Kevins have worked together previously and will be a huge boost to securing long-term sponsorship of the Centre from industry. I also had a good discussion with our Accountant to go through our figures ahead of the Board Meeting on the 1st December.

On Wednesday, I was delighted to Chair the Cyber Security and Data Protection Summit at the QE2 conference centre in London. We had over 500 delegates in the audience. The day started with a brilliant presentation from the NCSC and was followed by talks from the Cabinet Office about the progress being made towards the National Cyber Strategy and from DSIT about the Government’s new ‘Secure by Design’ principles which are now firmly embedded across much of the public sector. At the lunchtime break, I popped across Parliament Square to attend the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ‘London as a Global City’ as a guest of the London Chamber of Commerce. There are clearly some big challenges to London’s position among other global cities (it’s slipped from 5th to 15th since Brexit) but it’s important that cyber resilience is seen as a key part of its recovery from the pandemic.

Also on Wednesday, we had a Community Outreach event at Monument and did a rehearsal with one of our Cyber PATH students for a Security Awareness Training Session we will be delivering for members of the Better Bankside BID next week. Plus, Hannah attended the Haringey Partnership Problem Solving Group.

On Thursday, we were back in Fleet Street to deliver another Digital Security Clinic at the building next door to the one we were in on Tuesday. Different companies, but another great opportunity to get the CRC name out there.

Then finally this week, on Friday we had our fourth and final Community Outreach event of the week in Muswell Hill working alongside police officers from the local neighbourhood team.

Looking ahead to this week…

On Monday, we welcome a delegation from the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado who will be coming to our offices at City University. They are really interested in the CRC Model and the work we do specifically in London as part of a two-week tour of the Capital. I’m delighted that the Metropolitan Police will also be joining us to talk about policing in general and the work of the Cyber Crime Unit. If time allows, they are going to be running a Cyber Escape Room exercise, which is brilliant fun (although I still have nightmares about the escape room I got locked in). A massive thank you to MPS team for making this happen. Also on Monday, Hannah will be meeting the WeAreWaterloo BID ahead of another Community Outreach event later this month.

On Tuesday, we have a Community Outreach event in Larkswood (which is near Chingford).

On Wednesday, Tierney and I will be exhibiting at the Business Show in London’s Excel alongside colleagues from the Eastern CRC. I’ll also be attending the Business Crime Committee at the London Chamber of Commerce, and we have another Community Outreach event in Abbey Road. We’ll also be joined by another new volunteer, Patricia who is a small business owner herself and was a victim of cyber-crime. We met Patricia during one of our Community Outreach events - she was so impressed that she asked to get involved!

On Thursday, we’ll be at day 2 of the Business Show during the day while I’ve got an evening event with our Cyber Essentials Partner Crossword Cyber Security.

Then finally on Friday, Hannah and I will be interviewing 4 candidates from Birkbeck University’s Ability Programme. We’ll be taking two on board as short-term placements (funded by the Ian Karten Trust) to support the Community Outreach programme.

As is becoming customary, I've set the team another challenge this week. As we're in Abbey Road, famous for the studios where the Beatles recorded many of their albums, I want the team to recreate the cover of the Abbey Road album (the one where they are on the zebra crossing). The flares are of course, optional.

Simon