A 'Cyberalarm' tool which aims to help businesses improve online security has been launched by Merseyside Police.

The Home Office-funded service helps protect an organisation by passively monitoring internet traffic logs and reporting on suspected malicious activity.

The project has been welcomed by Merseyside Police's Cyber Dependent Crime Unit.

Detective Inspector John Black said "We know that nationally, the average cost of a cyber-attack to a small business is around £11,000 and there are many successful attacks every day in the UK.

"Cyber security should be a priority for every business no matter how big or small.

"This is a police-led project which businesses can trust.

"There is no catch to signing up, it is being offered for free and we want to get as many businesses as possible signed up to the growing network of Police CyberAlarm members."

Initially introduced in June as a pilot in four regions across England and Wales, Police CyberAlarm has been given the go ahead to roll out to the remaining regions over the next two months.

Every business and organisation in the region can now get access to the free tool.

It is designed to help them understand and monitor the cyber threats they face by providing regular reports of suspected malicious activity, enabling a business to take steps to improve their cyber resilience.

Once a business or organisation becomes a Police CyberAlarm member, they will need to install the 'CyberAlarm Virtual Server' which will then collect and process traffic logs identifying suspicious activity from the firewall.

Police CyberAlarm does not see the content of any network traffic. Instead, it monitors metadata in the logs relating to the traffic to identify suspicious activity and is designed to protect personal data, trade secrets and intellectual property.

Detective Inspector Black added: "Police CyberAlarm can benefit any organisation with a computer network including SMEs, public and private sector, charities, education and local government.

"The more members we have, the more data we get which will provide law enforcement with a much richer intelligence picture about the current and emerging threats businesses are facing.

"As a Police CyberAlarm member, organisations will benefit from regular reports detailing suspicious and potentially malicious attack activity on their firewall/internet gateway.

"It will show them how they are being attacked, and where from so they can improve their cyber resilience.

"It will also help law enforcement identify current threats and take enforcement action against cyber criminals".

Businesses can sign up on the cyberalarm.police.uk website.

They will then receive a unique code and when this is added to their website, it will provide access to full instructions and how to install Police CyberAlarm.

For more details visit: https://cyberalarm.police.uk/ or https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXrb2vooVv9HUXE7OKYrvoA

They can also email the Cyber Protect Officers at Merseyside Police on: Cybercrime.Protect@merseyside.police.uk