Businesses need to think of online crime in ‘visible terms’ if they are to beat it, according to a report.
This will also be the key message of the Information Assurance Advisory Council (IAAC) at their 5th annual symposium on October 14th.
The symposium will attempt to address this issue while coming up with practical solutions about how to reduce the risk of internet crime.
The IAAC are responding to recent research carried out by the Department of Trade and Industry, which shows that 75 per cent of all businesses have suffered a security breach involving their information.
There are usually major costs associated with cyber crime, with each incident taking between two and 20 days to clear up resulting in a major drop in productivity.
Maarten Botterman, CEO of the IAAC, said: “Cyber crime is invisible, and so are the opportunities we present for it to be carried out. We need to urge government, business and individuals to think of Internet Crime in visible terms.
“There is a growing and mysterious underworld of internet criminal activity and security breach, a level that would horrify us were it visible not virtual crime.
“Imagine arriving at work to be greeted day in, day out, by broken windows and missing files, documents and money.”
Chairing the symposium will be a host of prominent speakers including John Lyons of the National High Tech Crime Unit and Stuart Okin, Chief Security Officer of Microsoft UK.
The event also hopes to provide a wake up call for business with a relaxed policy on cyber crime.
Botterman said, “Many people use a single username, ID and password for all their programmes or internet access, that’s the equivalent of having one key for every single lock in their life, house, car, garage, shed, safe, office or business.
