Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any support available to small businesses to strengthen cybersecurity to prevent economic disruption.
Minister for the Economy: While my department does not have a regulatory role in relation to business cybersecurity, I recognise the importance of cybersecurity in enabling small businesses to operate safely and securely in a digital economy.
The Department’s Trading Standards Service provides advice and support to businesses affected by online scams and cyber-enabled fraud and undertakes awareness-raising activity to help businesses protect themselves from online threats. TSS is a member of the Department of Justice Business Crime Partnership which helps ensure the North is a safer and more competitive place to do business, with actions shaped by the needs of the business community.
Operating within the Department of Finance, the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre (NICSC) works with the public, private and third sector to improve their ability to defend against cyber attacks, increase their knowledge of cyber threats, and become more cyber resilient.
Support to small businesses includes:
• Cyber awareness videos covering topics such as phishing, ransomware, and data breaches which are shared with key representative bodies, including the Federation of Small Businesses, NI Chamber of Commerce, Community Pharmacy NI, credit unions, the Law Society, and the Go Succeed programme.
• Publication of cyber security guidance for SMEs on the NICSC website, including signposting to detailed advice and practical tools available through the National Cyber Security Centre’s website.
• On request from representative bodies, delivery of NICSC’s ‘Exercise in a Box’, which supports organisations to test and practise their response to a cyber attack.
ENDS
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