Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet partners with Mastercard and Global Cyber Alliance to provide cybersecurity toolkit for small businesses in Ireland.
The timing for a new cybersecurity toolkit for small businesses could not be more appropriate in the wake of the mass global IT outage that struck in recent days.
It is under stood that cybercriminals are leveraging the ongoing outage to launch phishing campaigns.
“Cybercrime represents a significant threat for Ireland’s small businesses”
CrowdStrike Intelligence is warning that scammers are using the IT outage, to pose as legitimate sources of help for impacted businesses.
A bug in a content update for the CrowdStrike Falcon cybersecurity tool led to mass IT outages across banks, broadcasters, businesses and individual users experiencing the dreaded “blue screen of death” on their devices.
The UK National Cyber Security Centre has reported a rise in phishing attacks in the wake of the outage. Attackers have been quick to pounce, selling fixes to help businesses and individuals to recover their machines. Some of these so-called tools contain malicious malware that redirect victims to phishing links.
It is one typical scenario out of many that businesses and their staff face as opportunistic cybercriminals use real events to wreak havoc and line their pockets.
Fight financial crime
Cybercrime is the number one threat in terms of financial crime in Ireland. This is particularly true for small businesses, one in three of which in Ireland fell victim to cybercrime between May 2021 and April 2022, according to data from Grant Thornton.
“In this digital decade, lifelong learning is not just a necessity but a cornerstone for progress and security”
Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, in a bid to help tackle this critical issue, have partnered with Mastercard to roll out the Global Cyber Alliance’s (GCA) Cybersecurity Toolkit, which provides small businesses with free tools and resources to reduce their cyber risk and increase their resistance to cyber-attacks.
“Cybercrime represents a significant threat for Ireland’s small businesses,” explained Danielle Maloney, country manager for Ireland at Mastercard.
“These businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, and we are proud that the GCA cybersecurity toolkit will be made available to Irish businesses for the first time. We know how much technology can help small businesses thrive, and the power of partnerships like this in bringing training and resources to the widest audience possible.”
The GCA toolkit gives small businesses an additional layer of protection against cyber threats and the risks they pose by providing them with free tools and resources focused on the implementation of essential cyber hygiene including strong passwords, 2FA, as well as tools to help protect against phishing, malware and more.
By adding the GCA Toolkit to its existing library of over thirty accredited courses, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet will help upskill small business owners who are most at risk from cybercrime and fraud, all totally for free.
“Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet is proud to announce our partnership with Mastercard and Global Cyber Alliance in bringing the GCA Toolkit to small businesses,” said Dave Feenan, network director, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet.
“In this digital decade, lifelong learning is not just a necessity but a cornerstone for progress and security. This collaboration underscores our commitment to enhancing cyber awareness and hygiene among small businesses, empowering them to navigate the digital landscape confidently and future-proof their operations against evolving cyber risks. Together, we are taking a significant step forward in building a safer, more resilient digital ecosystem for small businesses everywhere.”
Main image at top: Derek Pillar, Cyber & Physical Security Manager, Mastercard; Gill Thomas, Director of Engagement, Capacity and Resilience Program, Global Cyber Alliance; Gavin Henderson, Vice-President, Regional Security, Mastercard; Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance; Susan Kelly, Operations Director; Dave Feenan, Network Director, Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet
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