Cyber Security Communities of Support (CyCOS) are looking for SMEs to help them understand how they manage their cyber security needs, and the EMCRC is supporting the research and offering a free web assessment as part of the deal!

What does it involve?

Your participation will only take a couple of moments of your time, and you will not be asked

to reveal any confidential information about yourself or your organisation. You would be

recording any instance where you have sought cyber security support from any source and

submitting an online form to capture your experiences.

Who are the researchers?

Dr Maria Bada, Dr Matthew Rand (Queen Mary University), Professor Steven Furnell, Dr

Neeshe Khan (University of Nottingham), Dr Jason Nurse (University of Kent).

What do I get out of it?

For your participation you will have the opportunity to participate in the operational

Communities of Support later in the project, gaining access to supporting information and

expertise relevant to SMEs.

In addition, ISC2 will subsequently offer participants access to free cybersecurity training and certification, should you elect to continue to remain involved in the longer-term activities of the CyCOS project and participate in the Communities of Support.

If you participate and state that you saw this opportunity via EMCRC resources (for example on our website, our socials or the newsletter mailing list) we will offer the first two participants who sign up a free First Step Web Assessments (FSWA).

Let’s do it!

If you would like to participate or have any questions about the information provided, please

feel free to get in touch with Dr Matthew Rand on m.rand@qmul.ac.uk.

Background information

This project is funded by UKRI EPSRC. The aims of this study are:

• a. capture, track and analyse experiences when seeking (SMEs) or providing (Providers)

  cyber security support (e.g. if you have a related question, concern, or even a related

  incident)

• b. identify different scenarios (e.g. general guidance, pre-sales advice, post-sales

  support, and support for incident response) in which support is sought, under what

  circumstances, and to the extent to which it proves effective;

• c. capture details of what happens during the resulting 'support journeys' (i.e. from start

  to finish, including what triggered the need for support, who was contacted, what

  support was provided, what the outcome was), alongside insights into aspects such as

  the skills required to provide support, any challenges encountered, and lessons

  learned.

The findings will inform activities to enhance support provision through the design,

implementation and pilot evaluation of Cyber Security Communities of Support, enabling

collaborations that enhance the level and availability of support available to SMEs.

To register your interest or if you have any queries, please get in touch with

Dr Matthew Rand (m.rand@qmul.ac.uk)

Reporting

Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).