West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today offered her support to a campaign to encourage more business people to be aware of cyber threats. The MP has agreed to support a national campaign by the Federation of Small Business to stay safe online. The FSB has issued a report on the impact of cyber security and unveiled that crime costs small business £785 million each year. According to FSB figures, one third of all small businesses have been a victim of online credit card fraud and the average cost to a small business is £4,000. Harriett commented: “We are increasingly doing our shopping online and businesses are trading in new ways to follow their customers. “However, the online environment offers new challenges to small businesses and this FSB guide is an important tool to help smaller companies understand and mitigate their risks. “Fortunately my constituency is full of cyber experts so I hope that our business community will want to work together to ensure that Worcestershire is great place to business offline and a safe place to do business online.” Ann Swain, from the FSB, commented: “Tackling cyber crime is a growing priority for businesses, and while a lot of our members are taking action we need to make sure small businesses adopt a range of measures to protect themselves. “Our research shows just how common cyber crime is, and the serious effect it has on firms, so we’re keen to make sure they have access to the right advice and support.” Photo: (l-r) Ann Swain, Harriett Baldwin MP.