Techworks UK Professional Training & Courses

( Techworks UK )

VICTIMS of cyber crime in Wales more than doubled in the past year and the problem cost businesses nearly £400m, says a report from online safety group e-Crime Wales.

It said the country witnessed a 67% increase in online security incidents such as the attempted hacking of passwords, data loss and the spreading of viruses over the past 12 months.

The cost to businesses, based on turnover in 2009, is estimated at £373m and e-Crime Wales said the average Welsh business is losing more than 3% of turnover – almost £2,000 as a result of e-Crime.

E-Crime Wales said its research proved businesses are becoming more aware of online risks and acting accordingly, with more than half increasing spending on IT security in the past year.

However, the same businesses are also becoming increasingly dependent on computer systems and the internet, with the growth of “cloud computing” – where data is saved online – also leaving businesses vulnerable to new types of cyber-crime.

In order to combat the threat of e-Crime, which costs the UK £10bn in total, Wales has taken a lead on prevention.

Wales is the only country in Europe to have dedicated e-Crime officers in each of its police forces, and e-Crime Wales holds an annual summit to promote online safety, and keep businesses informed on the latest threats.

Andrea Barnard, e-Crime Wales police manager, said: “The integration of technology has huge benefits for Welsh businesses, enabling growth, reducing costs, increasing competitiveness and enhancing profitability. This is why we’re committed to making Wales a safe place to do business online.

“But e-criminals are highly resourceful, and as they’re not bound by the same laws and regulations they’re forever one step ahead of the game, finding new ways to attack and compromise businesses.

“E-crime is always evolving so businesses need to stay vigilant to the latest solutions to ensure safe trading, and businesses in Wales have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the free of charge resources e-Crime Wales has to offer.”

The loss of confidential data was an area highlighted as a major concern to businesses in the survey, with almost half of businesses surveyed saying that their own staff has leaked or lost sensitive information.

Catering equipment supplier IMC in Wrexham is one recent victim of e-crime. The company received what purported to be an e-mail from a regular customer asking for five items of machinery. The machinery was dispatched, and the vendor billed – but the e-mails turned out to be fraudulent and IMC never received payment.

Tim Tindle, of IMC, said the incident had taught the firm a lesson in vigilance and it has since implemented procedures not to let it happen again.

He said: “I was absolutely amazed when I learned how large a problem this is across Wales. You already have internet security measures to stop viruses and phishing, you have burglar alarms to make sure you don’t get burgled – this is another area to have emerged.  “My advice is for firms to have a second system of checks in place so that you can stop anyone suspicious from taking advantage.”

This year’s e-Crime Wales Summit will be held at the Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport on July 15. Businesses can register their interest in the Summit or access further information about when e-Crime Wales officers will be in their area at www.ecrimewales.com

To find out how you can get involved in the IT Security industry, visit us at http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=27 or call us on 020 7448 7700 to make an appointment to speak with one of our consultants today.

As part of Techworks UK’s ongoing customer commitment to keep up to date with current trends, Techworks UK are undergoing a huge upgrade of our course catalogue. Part of this upgrade will involve the introduction of new Techworks course packages and the addition of new modules into existing courses. As of March 2010, Techworks UK will no longer be offering the following packages:

• Applications & Solutions Development;
• Cisco Network Engineering;
• Web Design;
• MCSE/MCSA Package; and
• IT Security

Customers who have purchased any of these courses prior to March 2010 will not be affected. Their course subscription will continue as per normal. This also applies to their access to the company’s recruitment services. Upon completion of your course, Techworks will endeavour to help find you employment on the condition this is part of your package.

The introduction of the new course packages and upgrades reflect a number of global changes such as employment trends, advancements in technology, and increased cyber crime. The new Techworks course packages will include:

• MCTS/MCITP Package;
• Programming;
• IT Support Package;
• IT Security with Forensics; and
• MCPD Package

The new course catalogue takes into consideration both ends of the spectrum, catering for novices wishing to gain entry into the IT field, and individuals already working as specialists but wanting to upgrade their skills or change to a new area.

If you have any questions regarding these upgrades, please feel free to drop us an email at enquiries@techworks-learning.com.

Techworks UK has been praised from all quarters over the years, including students and institutions. Recently they have been appreciated & praised by Creative Motive, a leading agency for career guidance and creative training. This comes as no surprise as Techworks has been providing state of the art training at affordable prices for a long time and has helped several students succeed in their careers.

For more information visit Techworks website at www.techworks-uk.com

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Techworks help you get qualified as an IT expert and secure your future. It is a simple fact –> The more qualified you are, the more likely you will be able to cope with these tough economic times.

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Techworks UK offer training in many different areas. Contact us to today to find out more.

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 With Techworks UK, switch on and explore a range of possibilities through Techworks. We offer a variety of services aimed at different industries from IT Training, Recruitment, IT Solutions, and Consumer Goods. We believe in the notion of working with technology to help better serve our customers.

For more information visit our website www.techworks-uk.com