Experts from two regional organisations have teamed up to help ensure local charities are better able to protect themselves against the threat of cyber crime.

Teams from the Eastern Region Special Operations unit (ERSOU) – a specialist policing unit working across the region – are working with the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (ECRC) to offer charities in the area guidance on the threat posed by cyber criminals.

Charitable trusts are considered at high risk of being targeted by online fraudsters, with 32% of charities having reported experiencing some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last year.

There are approximately 13,000 registered charities in eastern England, and all are being offered the opportunity to attend a series of free webinars hosted by those who specialise in investigating and protecting against such criminality.

Six online staff awareness sessions aimed at helping charities’ staff and volunteers improve their personal awareness around fraud and cybercrime will be held over the coming months to provide organisations with simple actionable steps to help make them more secure.

Dates for the sessions are:

• 6pm – 7pm, Wednesday, 16 October

• 6pm – 7pm, Tuesday, 29 October

• 1pm – 2pm, Thursday, 7 November

• 6pm – 7pm, Wednesday, 20 November

• 10am-11am, Tuesday, 14 January

• 2pm – 3pm, Wednesday 29 January

John Greenwood, Cyber Protect Co-ordinator at ERSOU, said:

“Charities across the region are providing an incredible and often essential service in our communities, but unfortunately we do frequently see malicious cyber criminals looking to target them.

While law enforcement will always investigate reports of a cyber security breach, often the best approach is for organisations to take preventative action before they have become a victim.

We want all local charitable organisations to make sure that they are best equipped to protect themselves against the threats posed online, and I would encourage anyone working in the charity sector to get in touch.”

Paul Lopez, Managing Director of the ECRC, said:

“We are tremendously proud to have been asked to support our colleagues in law enforcement with this really important piece of work.  Charities remain one of the most vulnerable sectors in the UK when it comes to cybercrime, and the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre will look to address this by helping charities to understand the risk that they face from online criminals.

As well as assisting with the planned webinars, students from CyberPATH will be delivering funded Vulnerability Assessments for charities that are accepted onto the scheme.  However, this is being offered on a first come first serve basis - so if you want to take part, we advise you to speak to the centre as soon as possible in order to secure your place. “

Further information can be found online Web Application Vulnerability & Threat Assessment Services or by contacting enquiries@ecrcentre.co.uk

About the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (ECRC)

The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (ECRC) is a policing-led organisation established by the Home Office to help small and medium organisations tackle the rising threat of cyber-attacks. 

As one of our growing numbers of free core members, you will receive regular updates which include the latest guidance, news, and security updates. Our core membership has been tailored for businesses, charities and schools of all sizes who are based across the seven counties in the East of England.  

Join our community today at www.ecrcentre.co.uk 

About the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU

Created in 2010, ERSOU operates across the seven police forces that make up the Eastern Region - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, and Suffolk. It is made up of a Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and a Counter Terrorism Policing unit, which respectively manage the threat of serious and organised crime and terrorism across the region.

Working closely with local forces, external stakeholders and partners such as the NCA, the ROCU tackles and disrupts organised criminality such as drugs and firearms importation, cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, and much more.