TSB extends fraud-fighting partnership to small businesses

As part of its broader initiative to help law enforcement combat fraud, TSB has today announced that it will be partnering with the London Digital Security Centre (LDSC) to deliver a cyber security and awareness programme that helps small business owners protect their most valuable assets from cybercrime and fraud.

Small businesses are a growing target for cyber crime, with approximately 65,000 attempted attacks towards small businesses every day. Almost one in three small businesses suffered a cyber breach last year, costing the average small business £25,700ⁱ.

Most businesses recognise the threat but don't have the time or money to invest in cyber security strategies. The LDSC, a joint venture between the Mayor of London, the Met, the City of London Police, and with the support of TSB will run a series of educational workshops across London including Bexley, Lewisham and Greenwich to provide practical support to help small businesses. 

In addition to the workshops, the LDSC team assisted by a local police officer will visit businesses directly to offer a free Cyber Security Assessment. From the information provided within the security assessment, the LDSC will generate an individual Membership Action Plan (MAP) for each business who signs-up. The MAP provides each business with a prioritised cyber security plan, highlighting the areas to address first based on risk. Conversations are on a one-to-one basis, confidential and enable businesses to understand what security means to them.

Commenting on the programme, TSB’s Head of Fraud, Ashley Hart said: “This partnership allows us to support local businesses, on our high streets, in their effort to stay safe from fraud and cyber-crime. As well as protecting SMEs directly, the advice and support delivered through this partnership will make businesses a tougher target for criminals; reducing data breaches and therefore protecting our mutual customers from fraud.”

Neil Sinclair, National Cyber Lead, London Digital Security Centre, said: "Adding the support of TSB to our successful "in the community" work will help to take the digital security message to a wider audience and provide LDSC with an even better reach to small businesses, an area in which TSB already has a good reputation.

“As we become more confident with doing business online, it makes perfect sense to bring everyday digital security into the same arena as the wider anti-fraud message and business resilience. We want to make London the safest city in which to do business."

This follows TSB's recent announcement that it is partnering with the Met to step up the fight against fraud and hunt down the criminals that sit behind it. The Bank has invested £200,000 to support the Met to increase fraud education across local communities, enhance the skills of officers and staff to combat fraud, and develop new and innovative tools to tackle fraud at a local level. 

Media Contacts

Supreet Thomas,
T: 07519 502 123 | supreet.thomas@tsb.co.uk  

TSB Media Relations
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About London Digital Security Centre (LDSC)

LDSC is a not for profit organisation, founded as a joint venture by the Mayor of London, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the City of London Police (CoLP). They work in partnership with private industry and academia to help businesses, primarily small / medium business (<249 employees), to embrace digital innovations and operate in a secure online environment protecting themselves against cyber criminals.

LDSC will host the following:

In the Community
The London Digital Security Centre team assisted by a local police officer visits business to offer a free Cyber Security Assessment. From the information provided within the security assessment, the London Digital Security Centre will generate an individual Membership Action Plan (MAP) for each business who signs-up. The MAP provides each business with a prioritised cyber security plan, highlighting the areas to address first based on risk.

Security Clinic
The clinics are drop-in sessions for businesses to ask the London Digital Security Centre any questions relating to the MAP received, or other cyber security questions they may have. Conversations are on a one-to-one basis, confidential and enable businesses to understand what security means to them.

Seminar
2 hour interactive presentations to raise awareness about the most common causes of cyber-crime, how criminals operate and what we can do to protect ourselves from becoming victims.

For the schedule of upcoming events please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/london-digital-security-centre-12802262890