Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape, often lacking the resources and expertise needed to protect themselves effectively. In the UK alone, 5.5 million SMEs represent the most vulnerable sector to cyber attacks, creating an urgent need for innovative approaches to cyber resilience.
The National Cyber Resilience Centre Group (NCRCG) has developed a unique solution to this challenge. As a strategic collaboration between police, government, private sector, and academia, this not-for-profit organization — funded and supported by the Home Office, policing, and private sector partners — works to strengthen cyber resilience across the nation’s SME community in support of the government’s National Cyber Strategy.
As a founding member and national ambassador for three years, Chainalysis is proud to be supporting this mission to coordinate a strong defense against cybercrime and reduce cyber risks amongst the SME community in the UK.
Keep reading for more, or watch the video with Andrew Gould from the City of London Police and Alex Cable, VP NEMEA at Chainalysis as they discuss the success of NCRCG.
From reactive to proactive: A new approach to cyber protection
“For the last 10 years, Chainalysis has been involved in some of the largest cyber investigations globally,” explains Alex Cable, VP NEMEA at Chainalysis. “A lot of what we’ve been doing with UK policing has been very much post-event — after a cyber attack has happened. One of the reasons why we love working with the resilience centers is that this is all about protecting. This is about protecting businesses from actually getting under cyber attack.”
This shift from reactive investigation to proactive protection represents a fundamental change in approach, and is aligned with Chainalysis’ mission to prevent illicit transactions.
A proven partnership
The collaboration between Chainalysis and NCRCG exemplifies how public-private partnerships can drive meaningful change. “Chainalysis have been fantastic national ambassadors for us,” notes Andrew Gould from the City of London Police. “They saw very early the value that this initiative could bring, and they wanted to help. They’re really important partners for us in other areas of our cyber crime response. And because this is a really important initiative for us, Chainalysis wanted to bring their expertise and resources to help support this.”
Building tomorrow’s cyber workforce
At the heart of this initiative is the cyber PATH program, which connects university students with SMEs to provide hands-on cybersecurity support. Chainalysis is an active participant in this program, as some of our subject matter experts have volunteered to train students in blockchain analytics and crypto-related cyber threats — crucial skills in today’s digital landscape.
“We’re training those students on cyber investigations, blockchain analytics, and what cyber threats look like when they’re crypto-generated,” Cable notes. “From our perspective, that does two things. Firstly, it’s helping the pipeline of talent for cyber within the UK economy. And secondly, it’s raising up amazing young students who are making their first steps into their careers in cyber.”
The program goes beyond training, with experienced Chainalysis investigators and trainers providing mentorship to students. This personal guidance helps bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application, creating a more robust pipeline of cybersecurity professionals.
Gould highlights the impact of this collaboration: “They’ve been doing some fantastic work with some of our students — training them on the blockchain and getting them to understand the benefits and the possibilities that come for cryptocurrencies and support them in their onward path into industry.”
A mission-driven partnership
For Chainalysis, this partnership aligns perfectly with the company’s core mission. “We believe in building trust in blockchain, and we want to help organizations protect themselves from cyber attacks and ransomware,” Cable emphasizes. “We work here for the right reasons, and we like to give back.”
This collaboration demonstrates how the strategic coordination between police, government, private sector, and academia can effectively address complex cybersecurity challenges. By combining law enforcement expertise with private sector innovation and academic talent, NCRCG creates a comprehensive approach to cyber resilience that no single organization could achieve alone.
SMEs interested in joining the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group can learn more here: https://nationalcrcgroup.co.uk/
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