For smaller businesses cyber security isn't always their highest priority which means they can be left vulnerable to attacks.
In an effort to beef up protection for small and medium businesses, the UK government is launching a voucher scheme as part of a package of measures designed to increase the resilience of UK businesses to cyber-attacks.
The package also includes a new online learning and careers hub to help ensure the UK has the cyber skills talent pool to protect both the public and private sectors as it faces the reality of increasing cyber threats.
"We want to help protect UK businesses against cyber attack and make the UK safest place in world to do business online," says Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey. "The new voucher scheme will offer increased protection for small businesses, and the new online hub will help ensure we have the skilled workforce in place to manage the increased pressures of the digital age".
The voucher scheme, which launches later this month, will offer micro, small and medium sized businesses up to £5,000 for specialist advice to boost their cyber security and protect new business ideas and intellectual property. The scheme will be overseen by the Government’s innovation experts at Innovate UK.
The new Inspired Careers online skills and career hub is being launched today and has been developed by industry body CREST along with the Government to tackle the skills shortage in cyber security.
The hub features careers information and advice, internship and apprenticeship opportunities, academic and professional training courses, work experience and senior level vacancies, and will be a powerful tool to promote the cyber security profession and encourage the next generation of cyber specialists to help protect the UK.
As part of a National Cyber Security Programme the Government is investing £860m between 2011 and 2016 to protect the UK in cyber space. More details of information security policy are available on the Government's site.
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