A new guide produced jointly by the National Cyber Security Centre (NSC) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) aims to protect construction SMEs from cyber attacks.
Construction firms including Bam Construct, Interserve, Bouygues, RMD Kwikform and Amey have suffered a string of attacks over the past two years.
The NSC said that recent attacks showed how businesses of all sizes are being targeted by criminals.
Last year, a survey by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of all types of businesses found more than a third of micro (37%) and small businesses (39%) reported falling victim to a cyber security breach or cyber attack in the previous year, with this increasing to 65% for medium-sized businesses.
Meanwhile, it stressed that construction firms need to understand how vulnerable they might be to cyber attacks as businesses adopt new digital ways of working.
Aimed at construction SMEs and other firms in the supply chain, the guide explores who is behind cyber attacks on construction, and offers security guidance on backing up data, protecting computers from malware, keeping mobile devices and passwords safe, dealing with phishing, and how to prepare for and respond to cyber incidents.
To download the guide, click here.
Caroline Gumble, chief executive of the CIOB said: “The consequences of poor cyber security should not be underestimated. They can have a devastating impact on financial margins, the construction programme, business reputation, supply chain relationships, the built asset itself and, worst of all, people’s health and wellbeing. As such, managing data and digital communications channels is more important than ever.
“This guide provides a timely opportunity to focus on the risks presented by cyber crime, something that has been highlighted by CIOB for some time. We’re now delighted to partner with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) to produce another invaluable resource.”
Sarah Lyons, NCSC deputy director for economy and society resilience added: “As construction firms adopt more digital ways of working, it’s vital they put protective measures in place to stay safe online – in the same way you’d wear a hard hat on site.
“That’s why we’ve launched the new Cyber Security for Construction Businesses guide to advise small and medium-sized businesses on how to keep their projects, data and devices secure.
“By following the recommended steps, businesses can significantly reduce their chances of falling victim to a cyber attack and build strong foundations for their overall resilience.”
