Praise for Exeter's Cyber City vision

Exeter’s movers and shakers have been praising city businesses who joined forces to stage the city’s first Cyber Security Awareness Week.

A series of free seminars, one to one clinics, networking and information sessions are being held next week (Feb 6 – 10) in venues around the city in a bid to persuade all businesses large and small to take care of their online security.  

Celebrity Chef Michael Caines MBE, (pictured above) busily preparing to open Lympstone Manor in the Spring, said Exeter and East Devon are places full of people with energy and vision.  He said the Cyber Security Awareness Week was full of essential information every business owner needs to know. 

The event, lead by Bluegrass Computer Services, will also be demonstrating how live ransomware attacks happen and will show delegates a map of the world showing live cyber attacks as they happen.

There were more than 2.5 million cyber attacks on UK businesses in 2015, according to the Office for National Statistics.

MP Ben Bradshaw spoke of the growing concern amongst policy makers in Westminster about cyber security, now Britain’s fastest growing crime.  He sent a video message praising the businesses who have come together to stage the week of events. 

‘I’m very proud not only that Exeter is a vibrant go-ahead city,’ he said,  ‘but that you are already thinking about these sorts of challenges that could make or break our businesses if precautions aren’t taken to help defend ourselves. ‘

Guest speaker at the event Alastair Revell, who is Director General of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers said there was a feeling that cyber crime targets large businesses where there are rich pickings. 

‘The reality is that it goes for the low hanging fruit with potentially devastating consequences for those who have ignored the threat,’ he added.

Support too has also come from Exeter City Council’s Chief Executive Karime Hassan who praised the event saying looks like being ‘an outstanding an extremely comprehensive week’. 

Ben Rhodes, Chief Executive of Devon and Cornwall Business Council, who will formally close the week’s proceedings, urged businesses to attend, saying it was crucial these messages were shared.

For more information please visit www.bluegrass-group.com/cyber-security-week