Cyber security expert delivers key talk at event

Simon McAlpine, a trusted member of the Burton & District Chamber Council Committee, has delivered an insightful talk to Chamber members at a recent Speaker Breakfast event hosted at Heath House, Uttoxeter.

As a regional director at Air IT, an award-winning IT Managed Service Provider with a specialist Cyber Security division, Simon has helped many business leaders protect their organisation from cyberthreats over 20 years.

Alongside Tom Baskerville, an account manager at Air IT West Midlands, Simon shared his insights into the latest threats and challenges that companies now face, how businesses and employees can work more securely, and what actions they can take to avoid becoming the next statistic.

The first key takeaway that Simon discussed was that prevention is better than cure.

He said being prepared in advance saves you a lot of hassle in the future and urged attendees to “understand the right protection that fits best for your business. ”

Another key takeaway was that the majority of successful cyberattacks are not sophisticated but can cause serious commercial damage. By getting the basic defences right, businesses of every size can protect their reputation, finances and operating capabilities.?

Simon added: 'The barrier of jargon and understanding of technology is not to be underestimated but engaging with professionals in the industry and give you and your employees an informed view on the risks and ways to alleviate those risks. '

A final key point was that security policies should include provisions for remote working including how corporate data should be accessed and from which devices.?

Some of the ways in which this is done is through VPN technology to encrypt the connection and subsequent data in transit between the employee device and corporate network and cloud-based device level security technologies.

Increasing awareness company-wide is also essential, Simon told attendees: “Your staff are your weakest link but also your strongest line of defence. ”

For more information about Air IT and the services it provides, visit: Managed IT Services | IT Services & Solutions | Air IT

Pictured (l - r): Michelle Spaul, customer experience consultant, Delta Swan Ltd, Simon McAlpine and Tom Baskerville at the Burton & District Chamber of Commerce Speaker Breakfast