In an effort to bolster cyber resilience among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and charities struggling with limited IT resources, the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland has unveiled its initiative – the Cyber Advance programme.

The programme aims to guide organisations through the confusing world of digital resilience.

According to a study on SME cybersecurity culture done by the University of Salford, SME business owners might think that threat actors would not target their data as their small businesses profits would not be as tempting as that of a larger enterprise. 

“Similar to heading off to work and leaving your home door unlocked all day on purpose,” they say. In reality, 43% of cyber-attacks target SME businesses, and 60% of them which fall victim go out of business within six months. 

Therefore the first pillar of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland programme is a vulnerability assessment, which is an in-depth review of its information systems. This involves identifying weaknesses, assessing their severity levels, and recommending strategic actions to mitigate potential threats. 

“We know that for many SMEs and charities looking to improve their cybersecurity, it can be difficult to know where to start. With businesses of all sizes at risk of cybercrime and fraud, Cyber Advance provides a means to identify risks in existing cyber plans and mitigate them before they become a problem,” said Jude McCorry, CEO of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland.

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Following the Vulnerability Assessment, organisations undergo intensive cyber training sessions aimed at educating staff on the importance of adhering to proper procedures to avert cybercrime and fraud but also serve to fortify the integrity of their digital data.

One organisation which benefitted from the programme, Street Soccer Scotland, a charity offering football-themed opportunities to disadvantaged groups, underwent a vulnerability assessment for the first time ever with the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland.

“The security of our data is of the utmost importance, and we found that a member of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland team was always on hand to reassure us and answer our questions,” said Cameron Black, central operations manager at Street Soccer Scotland,