Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help protect small and medium-sized businesses against cyber-crime.

The Government takes the threat of cyber crime against small and medium-sized businesses very seriously. This is why the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was established to provide a single, central authority on cyber security at the national level. The NCSC has created the small business guide to help small businesses protect themselves from the most common cyber attacks.

The Government continues to invest in the law enforcement response to cyber crime, over £200 million since 2010. This includes investment in the Protect network so in all 43 force areas there is someone dedicated to helping businesses and individuals protect themselves from cyber crime. The network is coordinated by Law Enforcement at the national level, working with NCSC, to ensure their advice is based on the latest understanding of the threat.

Through the Government’s Cyber Aware programme we have also provided the public and small businesses with the latest advice on how to take simple steps that will protect them and their personal information from cyber crime.