12.03.07
Pioneering event reveals how to avoid the doomsday scenario

The first large scale event in Cornwall to raise awareness of the vital importance of IT security will be held later this month.

The IT Horror Show will take place on 28th March at Kingsley Village, Fraddon. The event is being staged by Let's ProfIT!, the Objective One project that is led by Cornwall Enterprise and is spearheading the development of advanced IT skills amongst businesses in Cornwall.

Matt Barrett, Let's ProfIT! Project Manager, says: "Cornwall is undergoing a revolution in its use of IT. More than 50% of businesses in the county are now connected to broadband. But as businesses and self employed people become more dependent on their IT systems, it is increasingly important to be aware of IT security and guard against the risks. The results of a failure can be catastrophic."

Recent research by Computer Weekly showed that over 80% of small and medium sized businesses in the UK have been hacked or attacked. Large companies usually have electronic defences in place but small companies do not usually have the same degree of protection.

"At its worst" says Matt, "the effect could be to cause a business to stop trading. This is clearly a nightmare scenario for businesses."

Presentations at 'TheIT Horror Show' are by experts from local companies, UK Net Web, checkmyfile.com, Forward ITC and Electronic Waste Company. The event includes shocking live demonstrations of web hacking and data destruction.

Toby Parkins, Managing Director of UK Net Web, who will carry out the live web hacking demonstration, says "People think it can't happen to them. I want to shock people by showing them how easy it is, so that they are more likely to take action to guard against the risks."

The evening will also include presentations on personal identify theft and how to store data safely.

Barry Stamp, Joint Managing Director of checkmyfile.com who will be presenting on identity theft, says: "Personal identity theft is a hot media issue at present. I will reveal how it happens – and what you can do to prevent it happening to you."

Matt Barrett says: "We have based the evening around the theme of horror movies to help get the message across. The whole subject of IT security can sometimes come across as too dry and technical and we think that is one of the reasons businesses often ignore it until it is too late. So we will be presenting the information in a format that is entertaining without detracting from the seriousness of the message."

John Berry, Managing Director of Cornwall Enterprise, says: "Our focus is on doing everything possible to increase the competitiveness of businesses in Cornwall - and this includes keeping your business safe from attack. Data is a vital business asset but a fragile one. The effect of losing all your customer database or financial records could be crippling. Businesses need to pay as much attention to security online as they do to business security in the real world."

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, says: "One of the key achievements of the Objective One programme has been to spearhead the development of broadband in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. But this phenomenal growth in the use of IT goes hand in hand with a growing need to raise the game in relation to IT security, so Cornish businesses can make the most of IT and minimise the risks."

'The IT Horror Show' on 28th March will run from 5-7pm followed by networking. The event is free to businesses and self-employed people based in Cornwall, so call 0800 072 1755 or email kate@lets-profit.co.uk now to book your place.

For further information contact Lynn File at Brand Innovation on 01208 821787 or email lynn@brandinnovation.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Let's ProfIT through the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

Let's ProfIT! is an Objective One project that was set up in 2005 to raise IT skills levels amongst businesses that depend on IT as well as to raise IT skills standards in the Information and Communications Technology sector in Cornwall. Funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund, other project partners include Cornwall Enterprise, Cisco and Microsoft. The project offers a combination of funding support for IT training and skills needs analyses, both for individuals and for companies as a whole. Let's ProfIT! is the next stage of the successful Objective One project, Let's Do IT!, which ran from 2001-2005 and promoted use of the internet to small businesses in growth sectors in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, notably food and drink and tourism.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

back to top