What is the Cyber Resilience Centre network and how can it help SMEs?

The Cyber Resilience Centre Network is helping businesses to become more secure through the sharing of relevant information, training and guidance.

The Cyber Resilience Centre Network (CRC Network) comprises nine centres across England and

Wales set up as a collaboration among the police, government, private sector and academia to help strengthen cyber resilience across the nation’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community in support of the government’s National Cyber Strategy.

The network is delivered by the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG), which is a not-for-profit organisation funded and supported by the Home Office, policing and private sector partners.

It provides a platform to coordinate a strong defence against cybercrime and, by doing so, makes the UK a more attractive place to work in and invest in.

Through NCRCG and the CRC Network, there is a vehicle to lead the charge in strengthening our nation’s cyber resilience. The model ensures law enforcement can learn from the insights and experiences of leading organisations across the UK economy, including in the public, private, and third sectors.

The National Ambassador programme provides an opportunity for the UK’s largest companies to

collaborate with senior law enforcement officials and the government to inform national developments on cyber resilience and reduce the risk posed by cyber criminals to their supply chains, customer bases, and the wider SME community.

Integral to the national reach are nine regional Cyber Resilience Centres (CRCs), established

across England and Wales and led by policing, to provide a range of free or affordable, high-quality cyber resilience services to smaller organisations in their locality.

Each centre works closely with its local universities to handpick a unique and talented cadre of students who work alongside senior security practitioners and supervisors to deliver a range of cyber resilience services to SMEs and third-sector organisations.

This service is delivered via the Cyber PATH programme, which provides affordable solutions

to local businesses while providing students with real-life work experience to encourage them to

explore cyber as a rewarding career choice.

The NCRCG provide insight at a macro level, consolidating information and analytics from across the CRC Network to enable the adoption of best practices across the country.

However, each centre retains regional leadership to ensure that national guidance and assistance gets closer to those who really need it.

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Reporting

Report all Fraud and Cybercrime to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or online. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. Report SMS scams by forwarding the original message to 7726 (spells SPAM on the keypad).

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