Recorded 25 March, this webinar gives you your daily update on the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on business. This webinar also covers cyber security, home working and data protection.
Watch the webinar
Our Daily Coronavirus Webinar on 25 March included our regular update from Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, as well as a special focus on cyber security. We discussed a wide range of topics, and answered questions from the audience.
Key questions we answered and government resources
- How can firms help their employees work from home?
As the scale of remote working increases, ways firms can help their employees work from home include:
- A strong mental health policy – consider sharing mental health resources with staff from organisations like MIND or training mental health first-aiders.
- Make sure staff take proper breaks – the line between work and rest can be blurred when people work from home.
- Think proactively about communication – companies should find ways to talk face to face through video rather than too many emails. You could also consider setting up daily team calls or virtual tea breaks.
- How can firms prevent cyber-attacks as they transition to home working?
Remote technology working offers huge benefits, but can open up new cyber risks for businesses and be daunting for employees who haven’t worked from home before.
Maintaining good cyber security practices is vital, both on the technical side, and when it comes to engaging employees to prevent attacks. A common attack is phishing - fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information. Recently, businesses have seen phishing attacks adapt to prey on people’s concerns about the coronavirus.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is a world-class advisory body, with free resources for firms and employees:
- For employers: home working guidance recommends steps organisations can take if introducing or scaling up home working, including information on email scams linked to the coronavirus. Start with the basics by taking 10 steps to cyber security.
- For employees: a free, 30-minute e-learning training package, ‘Stay Safe Online: Top Tips for Staff’.
- For employers and employees: Guidance on spotting and dealing with phishing emails.
- How can firms protect their data?
Data is at the heart of the fight against the spread of COVID-19, helping scientists and officials make the analysis and decisions to keep us safer. However, some businesses are worried that their data protection practices might not meet their usual standards during the pandemic due to stretched resources and increased home working.
The UK’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) are keen to stress that they understand these exceptionable circumstances. They have updated their guidance and have a hotline to help firms navigate tricky questions:
- Data protection and coronavirus: what you need to know, contains answers to FAQs (including for healthcare companies).
- For further help if your questions aren’t answered on the FAQ page, businesses can call the ICO hotline (0303 123 1113).
What are CBI members doing to help?
- Cisco has free remote working tools. UK&I Director of Cyber Security Mark Weir joined the webinar and shared some of his top tips for businesses looking to improve their cyber security, including: start with the basics – plan a cyber strategy; think about physical security (for example, if you’re using your laptop on a patio); keep up to date with the latest patches to fix security vulnerabilities.
- ELEMENTARYb is launching to help medium-sized businesses manage their financial and risk needs and are offering cyber advice to help protect businesses in need of support resulting from COVID 19. If you have any queries please email intouch@elementaryb.com with the details of your issue, full company and contact information, and the nature of the ask.
- KYND uses an organisation’s website address to instantly identify any critical cyber risks they may be facing. It is offering this service for free to small businesses or charities affected by COVID-19 who don’t have cyber insurance to protect them.
- Microsoft UK have launched their 'Supporting Resilient Operations' report and hub, which houses 10 solutions to help businesses adapt as quickly and effectively as possible. It contains advice and content with themes ranging from remote working and remote learning to intelligent security, digital inclusion and technical support.
- Sophos are offering a number of free services, including Sophos Intercept X for mobile (an app to protect phones and iPads) and Sophos Home, free security software for Macs and PCs.
- UK Finance’s Take Five campaign offers simple, impartial advice that helps prevent email, phone-based, and online fraud – including a simple checklist to help spot fraud and avoid scams.
Are you a CBI member offering cyber services and resources? We’d like to share what you’re doing. Contact Khush.
