Member Article

Businesses need to build better defences

Businesses in the region concerned about cybercrime are being urged to find out more about the Hadrian Project. Set up at the end of the last year by Newcastle University, One North East and the North East Fraud Forum (NEFF), the Hadrian Project aims to provide answers to one of the most serious security issues facing business today.

Recent events such as the loss of private data at the Child Benefit Offices in Washington prompted academics, government officials, business representatives and the police to join forces.

DCI Phil Butler, Head of Northumbria Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said the project’s name, linking to Roman Emperor Hadrian’s decision to create a security wall to protect the Empire’s citizens, still has a resonance today.

Mr Butler said: “A modern day threat to our security is seen as the growth of digital data collection, where an individual’s details can be vulnerable to criminal attack. We recognise that we are operating in a climate of increasing uncertainty and instability, where the Internet has made private data much more accessible.”

Professor Peter Ryan, of the Centre for Software Reliability at Newcastle University, said:: “Businesses urgently need to get a handle on this technology and ensure transparency in everything they do. It’s also important to take a pro-active approach to tackling cyber crime. “This is essential to ensure that the public has confidence in business and the public sector to keep their personal details safe.”

Businesses wanting to find out more about the Hadrian Project should contact Jon Warwick, Newcastle University, on 0191 222 8060.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .