British Chambers of Commerce have launched a campaign to raise business awareness of hi-tech crime.
The British Chambers of Commerce’s E-commerce Taskforce, set up last year to look at barriers to trading online, raised issues in a meeting with police at the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit. Firms lack awareness of the threat from online fraud, the BCC suggests, and fears firms are unwilling to admit their system may be vulnerable.
High internet fraud
The move follows recent research by the employers? organisation, which shows that linternet fraud levels were almost as high as crimes of violence and arson. The impact of online crime on business can be devastating with loss of vital information, higher insurance premiums and potential closure. Sally Low, Senior Policy Adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce, which represents 135,000 small to medium sized businesses, said: ?Many small firms find it hard enough simply to incorporate technology into their systems. What companies don’t realise is that with the new technology comes a potential threat from a wide range of remote sources. Building security into business systems and admitting you may be at risk at the outset is vital. Businesses should be more aware of the harm that could occur from inefficient security systems.? Tony Neate, Industry Liaison at the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, said: “What we are looking for is two-way communications between businesses and the law enforcement agencies. When firms suffer an incident, they must be confident to report immediately. We are working with business to open up debate and look at ways of addressing hi-tech crimes.? Visit www.chamberonline.co.uk
Digital certificate cut
ChamberSign, the digital certificate service from the British Chambers of Commerce, has confirmed that ViaCode, technology provider behind ChamberSign digital certificates, has ceased trading. ViaCode puts its decision to close down to the slow development of the market and the company?s unsustainable financial position. Current ChamberSign customers will continue to be serviced. ChamberSign is negotiating with other service providers to replace ViaCode, with the intention of migrating the existing customer base and of resuming issue of new digital certificates. ChamberSign says it believes the internet security market has a huge potential as more and more business are getting online and will therefore need the benefits of security to protect their business. ChamberSign is the UK element in an initiative by ten European Chambers of Commerce to create secure business-to-business electronic commerce across international borders.
