Cyber insurance specialist Emergence Insurance Pty Ltd (Emergence) has partnered with Western Sydney University (WSU) to combat cybercrime for small businesses.
As part of the Cyber Security Business Connect and Project Grants program, to be led by WSU, Emergence received a $100,000 grant from WSU and a $745,000 grant from the Federal Government to support businesses with their cyber incident response.
For 12 months, Emergence and three other cyber security businesses will work with WSU to establish the new Cybersecurity Aid Centre in Parramatta, New South Wales. The centre will provide cyber training and cyber incident response support for small businesses experiencing cyber fraud, such as a data breach, ransomware attack, or business email compromise.
The cyber underwriter will also implement a formal internship program, allowing WSU students to rotate through the cyber insurance specialist’s incident response and claims management team to expose themselves to the real threats of cyberattacks and develop incident response content to educate small businesses on cybercrime.
Emergence founder and chief executive officer Troy Filipcevic said they have been working with WSU for several years.
“Through our current work with [WSU], we will be providing cyber fraud education with a focus on insurance for small business, and train the next generation of cyber security experts through our internship program,” Filipcevic said.
“In today’s digital world, cybercrime is becoming more and more prevalent. We also believe that educating and raising awareness within the community about the ramifications of cyberattacks in our day-to-day lives is a positive step in the right direction to combat cybercrime.”
Commenting on the grants, Filipcevic said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded a portion of a Federal Government grant as part of the Cyber Security Business Connect and Protect Grants program with WSU.
“We see daily the devastating impact cyberattacks and data breaches can have on business. I would like to thank Senator the Hon Marise Payne, the Federal Government, and Western Sydney University, Bachelors of Cybersecurity and Behaviour department for their support in encouraging business to recognise the seriousness of being cyber wise.”
