Running a business can be stressful and lead to minds being distracted when under pressure. The problem with this is that these two vulnerabilities can lead to employees and their companies more susceptible to malicious emails.

A recent survey revealed that human emotion is often one of the biggest causes of a successful cyber-attack. The survey conducted by Tessian also found:

• Attackers used different impersonation techniques. The most common tactic was display name spoofing (19%), which is when the attacker changes the sender’s name and disguises themselves as someone the target recognises.
• 44% of the malicious emails included a URL link.
• The brands most likely to be impersonated in the malicious emails that were analysed included Microsoft, ADP, Amazon, Adobe Sign and Zoom.
• The retail industry was targeted most often.
• Most malicious emails were delivered between 2pm and 6pm in the apparent hope that a phishing email that is sent during the late afternoon will slip past a tired or distracted employee.

So how can The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands (WMCRC) help my business to tackle malicious emails?

Here at the WMCRC, we offer various membership packages that have been designed to suit businesses of all sizes, from one-man bands to those with 10,000+ employees. The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands was set up to support and help secure businesses across the region against cybercrime. ​

The first level of membership is free-of-charge, hassle free and doesn’t commit you to anything that you’ll later be charged for. There are options to upgrade your membership and utilise our cyber services, but these upgrades are not compulsory – the crux of the offer is really free. Our membership packages will provide your business with a range of resources and tools to help you identify your cyber security risks and vulnerabilities, as well as offering guidance on the steps that you can take to increase your levels of protection.

Why do we do this?

Cybercrime is a growing problem; in the region we have seen recent cyber-attacks hit business from all sizes and sectors. Some of the recent attacks have included:

• A cyber-attack on a Mercedes dealership which has sites in Erdington and Solihull
• A cyber-attack on Worcestershire Councils Special Educational Needs Department (SEND)
• A security incident at a Walsall construction firm confirmed as a cyber attack

Cyber-attacks are potentially ruinous events for business owners. The average cost of a cyber security breach in the United Kingdom is £1,010 across all businesses, however, this figure becomes greater as the size of a business increases. The cost of a cyber-attack is not only financial, with the average time large businesses spend on managing the impact amounting to 3.4 days, according to statista.com.

Since launching core membership the Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands has supported over 400 businesses spanning businesses of all sizes and sectors. We are currently helping businesses from various sectors that include retail and convenience stores, health and beauty establishments, financial and legal institutions, leisure and travel, hospitality, food and beverage businesses, manufacturing, and engineering and many more.

Become a member today to receive free guidance and support on how to prevent cyber-attacks but without the jargon. Find out more about us and the team at www.wmcrc.co.uk.