Ross Brown is the newly appointed Head of Cyber and Innovation for the South West Cyber Resilience Centre. We were able to spend some time with him to discuss his first few weeks and how his policing experience can help the centre develop and succeed.
How do you think your police experience will help in your new role?
Previously I have trained police officers in IT systems so I understand that the cyber world can be quite daunting for some people but when delivered in the right way it can be easily understood by everyone. In my police role prior to this I was involved in managing digital media investigations, so I hope to bring some of that investigative experience to my role in the SWCRC.
What will you be doing in your new role and what are the priorities?
My new role is to help keep businesses in the South West cyber secure. To do that I need to reach out to businesses across the SW so that they know how to find us and what services we offer and help them make the right decisions on
how they can shape their cyber security.
Why do you think the SWCRC is so important for businesses in the region?
The businesses that operate here in the South West region appreciate local solutions and that is just what we offer. Being locally based we understand local conditions and can offer services tailored to meet local business needs and delivered in a practical and easily understood format.
What are the main cyber security threats to businesses in SW region?
Apart from threats such as Ransomware and Phishing, during this very uncertain time and the amount of people home working and video conferencing from home has made it vital that businesses understand the security settings and protocols of the system they are using.
Have you got any tips for small and medium businesses to help them protect themselves?
Businesses have three main elements in their armoury against cyber-attacks and they are Technology, People and Processes. We can assist local businesses to optimise their current systems, inform their staff and update processes to improve their cyber defences.
What are you looking forward to most in your new role?
Having seen the aftermath of cyber-attacks and the catastrophic financial loss they can cause, I am looking forward to welcoming new members to the South West Cyber Resilience Centre and helping them to strengthen their own cyber resilience, so we can try and help them to keep their businesses safe.
Why should businesses join the SWCRC?
The South West Cyber Resilience Centre, as part of a National organisation, has been set up as a not for profit company to harness the very best of Law enforcement, Private Enterprise and Education in combatting cyber criminals, so we can keep you up to date with the latest information in the world of cyber and creating a safer and more resilient environment for businesses in the South West to operate.