Small and medium businesses in Alsager have the chance to claim free cyber security training, in an initiative which has been funded by Cheshire Police and the Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner.

Half of all businesses have experienced a cyber attack or breach in the last 12 months, with 84% of businesses stating they have experienced phishing attempts in the Government's latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey.

The Cheshire Cyber Security Programme was launched for businesses across the county earlier this year, and is being run by the North West Cyber Resilience Centre (NWCRC), which is a police-backed not-for-profit organisation. The programme offers 150 free training and membership places for the NWCRC, worth £500 each, as well as a one-to-one training session for each business.

Detective Inspector Dan Giannasi, head of cyber and innovation at the NWCRC, said: "A cyber attack can be incredibly stressful for a small business and hugely damaging both financially and for their professional reputation.

"Cyber fraudsters are getting incredibly sophisticated, and phishing emails, for example, can be really difficult to spot. Our training covers how to spot a potential phishing attack, as well as what you need to do if you are a victim of a cyber attack.

"We are calling on business owners to take up the free training sessions which will help their employees spot potential scams or phishing attempts, and help them stay safe against fraudsters."

Cyber security training empowers your employees with the knowledge to identify potential threats, such as phishing scams and malware, and take proactive steps to mitigate risks - as well as knowing what to do in the event of a cyber breach.

Cyber criminals may try to hack into your business accounts or social media accounts, in order to gain access to data or financial information. They may also try to use these accounts to gain access to your business supply chain as well.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Maddocks, from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, added: "Cyber crime is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK and a key priority for us at the NWROCU. We're encouraging small businesses in Cheshire to take advantage of the free memberships on offer, to help defend themselves against cybercrime. We will continue to work with the NWCRC, and police forces in Cheshire, to make the region a safe place to do business."

To sign up to the free fully-funded training and membership, visit this link here