The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
E-crime minister to aid businesses
A NEW e-crime minister was appointed yesterday in a bid to shield vulnerable Scottish businesses from online attacks costing millions.
Around 300 delegates, including representatives of all eight Scottish police forces and dozens of SME businesses, gathered at RBS’S Gogarburn base yesterday for the country’s first summit focusing on the threat to commerce of cyber crime.
Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill said his Cabinet colleague Fergus Ewing would lead Scotland’s cyber security agenda in a bid to make the country a safer and stronger place to do business.
A Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency survey filled out by many of those who attended the conference found a startling proportion of businesses left themselves open to online attack.
The study found that 21% of respondent companies allowed staff to use laptops without any form of encryption software being applied — a situation described as the IT equivalent of leaving keys in an unattended car with the engine running.
A “worrying” number of firms also outsourced their IT support without vetting their new provider, potentially giving access to confidential customer records, account numbers and other sensitive data.
The scale of the potential threat is huge given that an estimated £543 million was spent online by individuals in Scotland in the past year and 60% of Scots expect to increase the amount they purchase online over the next three years.
The value of online trade including business activity is much higher still.
Mandy Haeburn-little, executive director of SBCC, said Mr Ewing’s appointment was an important step forward.
“The digital landscape is constantly evolving and with unseen attackers able to strike at victims from hundreds or even thousands of miles away e-crime can be notoriously difficult to detect,” she added.
“Potential cyber attackers respect no geographical boundaries so it is vital businesses protect their networks before they put the security of the company and staff at risk.
“Cyber crime is not a fad or an issue solely for IT specialists.
“It is a clear and present danger for all businesses, regardless of size or sector.
“We estimate that Scots businesses are losing around £5 billion a year to cyber criminals — that figure should concern every business boss and employee in Scotland. But the reality is that much of the threat of e-crime can be eradicated by simple and inexpensive measures.”