Small Business Saturday 2021 takes place this year on the 4th December. The day was established to highlight small business success and to encourage us to 'shop local' and support small businesses in our communities. But it could also be an opportunity for SMEs and microbusinesses to reflect on what priorities we need to focus on.

The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands (WMCRC) itself is a small business which has been set up as a police-private sector-academia partnership, with the simple aim of raising cyber resilience across the West Midlands region. Whilst cyber security can be complex and costly, the WMCRC offers a free membership option which helps you understand some of the risks from cybercrime, but also offering support and guidance to businesses in the region.

Since launching core membership the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands has supported over 300 businesses who are now a part of the dedicated police-led centre, which has been established to help protect businesses across the region from cybercrime.

Businesses in the West Midlands can sign up for a free Core Membership online and receive a welcome pack 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.

Remember that no business is too small or large to be of interest to cybercriminals, members of the Cyber Resilience Centre are from a wide range of industries including Manufacturing, Engineering, Legal, Charities, Retail, Hospitality, Construction, Education and Academia.

Why is increasing the awareness of cyber security important?

You will have heard the saying ‘knowledge is power’, well by making yourself and staff more aware of cybercrime risks, but importantly, how to avoid falling victim to it by taking simple steps, then you are giving your staff that knowledge and gaining power by making your business more resilient and less susceptible to a cyber-attack.

We are not all gifted with cyber resources, so if you think you have a gap, get in touch and we can start that journey making you safer.