Free, online resource helps drive immediate action to
significantly reduce their cyber risk
NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global
Cyber Alliance (GCA) and Mastercard today released a new
Cybersecurity Toolkit specifically designed for small and medium
businesses. This free online resource is available worldwide and
offers actionable guidance and tools with clear directions to
combat the increasing volume of cyberattacks.
Some estimates indicate that 58 percent of cyberattacks are
targeted against small businesses1. These attacks
include phishing, malware and ransomware – all of which
can have devastating financial consequences. According to the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD):2
- Small businesses account for 99 percent of businesses globally,
including businesses in the US, EU, and the UK.
- Small businesses account for 70 percent of jobs, on
average.
- Small businesses generate more than half of the value added by
most economies.
Resourcing small businesses with tools to protect themselves
from ever-evolving cyber risks not only strengthens their
individual businesses but also supports the health of
the entire commercial ecosystem, including governments and
larger companies. Helping these small businesses be more secure by
taking a few reasonable steps will significantly reduce risk for
both the small business and its partners, no matter their size or
resources.
The GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit arms small business owners with
basic security controls and guidance, including:
- Operational tools that help them take inventory of their
cyber-related assets, create and maintain strong passwords, use
multi-factor authentication, perform backups of critical data,
prevent phishing and viruses, and more
- How-to materials, such as template policies and forms,
training videos, and other foundational documents they can
customize for their organizations
- Recognized best practices from leading organizations in
the industry including the Center for Internet Security Controls,
the UK's National Cyber Security Centre Cyber Essentials, the
Australian Cyber Security Centre's Essential Eight, and
Mastercard
"What sets the Global Cyber Alliance Cybersecurity Toolkit apart
is that it is an action kit," said Philip Reitinger,
president and CEO of Global Cyber Alliance. "Our focus is on
producing a dynamic clearinghouse of operational tools that help
small and medium businesses address risk and improve their
cybersecurity posture, leveraging the deep expertise of our network
of global partners, such as Mastercard, and the experiences of
actual GCA toolkit users."
As a Development Sponsor, Mastercard has shaped the priorities
and early success of the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit, helping to make
it accessible to millions around the globe.
"Safety and security are core to our brand," says Ron Green, chief security officer, Mastercard.
"Every day, we are committed to developing new and better ways to
keep payments safe – especially for small businesses, the lifeblood
of any economy. By partnering with the Global Cyber Alliance, we're
helping entrepreneurs and business owners to better protect
themselves. In that way, they can stay focused on what they do
best: running and growing their business."
The Global Cyber Alliance has partnered with several
additional organizations to create the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit,
including the Center for Internet Security, the Cyber Readiness
Institute, the City of London and the City of New York. The toolkit will also be
regularly updated with input from users, industry experts, and
public and private partners across the globe.
"I applaud the deployment of a cyber toolkit for small and
medium businesses. This support is of critical importance to
help smaller organizations effectively deal with increasingly
complex and more frequent cyber threats," said John Gilligan, president and CEO of the Center
for Internet Security.
City of London Police
Commissioner Ian Dyson said, "As the
national lead force for fraud and a founding member of the Global
Cyber Alliance, we are always pleased to see new initiatives that
will assist businesses in improving their cyber security.
Businesses lost £6.7 million as a result of social media and email
accounts being compromised between April and September 2018. It's therefore essential that we,
as a force, continue to work closely with businesses as well as the
organisations that serve to protect them."
"When we launched the Global Cyber Alliance we set out to
empower organizations of all sizes with the tools they need to
prevent cybercrime. The Global Cyber Alliance's free
Cybersecurity Toolkit provides small- and medium-sized businesses
with immediate, concrete steps to protect their companies and
customers against crippling cyberattacks, and I thank each of the
public and private partners who contributed their world-class
expertise," said Cyrus Vance, Jr.,
Manhattan District Attorney.
"NYCEDC is proud to partner with the Global Cyber
Alliance on the Cybersecurity Toolkit to better educate small
businesses about the risks of cyberattacks. Small businesses play a
critical role in New York City's
economy and represent an underserved customer base for cyber
education and technologies," said Nicholas
Lalla, project lead for Cyber NYC, at the New York City
Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
Cyber NYC is a $100 million
public-private investment to build a vibrant and inclusive
cybersecurity ecosystem. On November
1, 2018, the NYCEDC launched their Cybersecurity
Moonshot Challenge, asking the industry to develop and deliver
affordable and scalable cybersecurity solutions for small
businesses. As part of their partnership with the Global
Cyber Alliance, finalists will be considered for inclusion in the
GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit. New York
City will promote the free toolkit to New York City businesses through NYC
Secure.
Managing Director of the Cyber Readiness Institute Kiersten Todt said, "The Cyber Readiness
Institute is so pleased to support and collaborate with the Global
Cyber Alliance on helping small businesses reduce their cyber
risk. Our approaches are complementary, and our partnership
highlights the importance of integrating the multiple cybersecurity
efforts that exist to ensure efficiency and effectiveness for small
businesses. I look forward to what our organizations will
achieve together."
The Global Cyber Alliance will expand the Cybersecurity
Toolkit to help other sectors address the changing cyber threat
landscape. Additional launches are planned this year with support
from the District Attorney of New
York, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Corporation of
London, Center for Internet
Security and others.
To access the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit, visit
https://gcatoolkit.org/smallbusiness.
For more feedback from cybersecurity leaders and influencers,
visit https://www.globalcyberalliance.org/blog/.
About Global Cyber Alliance
The Global Cyber Alliance
(GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to
eradicating cyber risk and improving our connected world. We
achieve our mission by uniting global communities, implementing
concrete solutions, and measuring the effect. Learn more
at www.globalcyberalliance.org.
About Mastercard Incorporated
Mastercard (NYSE:
MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global
payments industry. Our global payments processing network
connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments
and businesses in more than 210 countries and
territories. Mastercard products and solutions make everyday
commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a
business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more
efficient for everyone. Follow us on
Twitter @MastercardNews, join the discussion on
the Beyond the Transaction
Blog and subscribe for the latest news on
the Engagement Bureau.
Contacts:
Aimee Larsen
Kirkpatrick, alkirkpatrick@globalcyberalliance.org,
808.282.9850
Jennifer deBerge, Jennifer.deBerge@mastercard.com, 636.722.7506
Adam Benson, adam@vrge.us,
202.999.9104
1 2018 Verizon Data Breach Report
2 OECD
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