Page 25 - Layout 1

Cyber crime
Tackling internet break-ins involves all
Gibraltar aims to become “the safest place to be in this new digital world” by mitigating cyber threats to
businesses and individuals through education, awareness, investigation and enforcement action.
The rallying call was made to more than 50 people representing all sectors of the juris- diction’s business community as Det. Supt. Ian McGrail of the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) unveiled GibCyberWatch, a cyber information sharing partnership (CISP) under the auspices of the new Gibraltar Contingency Council (GCC) that embraces Gibraltar Governor’s office, the government and RGP.
A GCC strategy is being formulated with Albert Isola, minister for financial services and gaming, the sectors most vulnerable to cyber crime that account for half of the economy.
“Cybercrime is set to become the biggest area of crime – hackers, identity theft, business disruption and loss – with organised crime groups, global, international terrorism”, McGrail explained.
“There have been incidences of cyber- crime, but it has not been separately recorded. However, we know substantial amounts of money have been lost,” he admitted. “From a law-enforcement perspective cyber- crime is under-reported in Gibraltar.”
This is the first time the business community has been actively involved. As a first step, RGP is seeking membership of the CISP – a platform with various business interest groups operated by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre - that will be open to Gibraltar business associations.
“We have many big enterprises in Gibraltar and they may be well-prepared to bat away threats from cybercrime, but it is a constantly moving target and no one is immune,” declared McGrath, adding: “The knowledge these firms have can help
particularly those medium and smaller–sized business lacking the resources to deal with cybercrime.”
McGrath hopes to “attract a specialist army of world class professionals to fight this cybercrime enemy. This is a rallying call to take action that has longevity and sustainability.”
Surveys will help gauge how far businesses are aware of the issue, the extent to which they have been victims, and how well-prepared they are to prevent cyber- crime.
Dr Daniel Dresner, a UK-based security consultant involved with GibCyberWatch, pointed out that many companies considered cyber security was an IT Department problem, but responsibility for action and awareness lay with the Board or business owner. “Remember, any cyber attack has potential to harm the company’s reputation – and that of a jurisdiction, he warned.
A Gibraltar Cyber Security Summit in June at the Sunborn Hotel is expected to attract wide attendance from business and individuals.
Is the next
evolution
of big data,
big judgment?
Find out how EY is helping companies transform the way decisions are made. ey.com/analytics #BetterQuestions
info@gi.ey.com +350 200 13 200
ey.com/gi
www.gibraltarinternational.com
Gibraltar International 25
© 2015 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. ED0116