NatWest boosts SME cyber resilience with NCRCG partnership
The National Cyber Resilience Centre Group is working with NatWest Group to increase awareness amongst NatWest's employees of available cyber support resources for charities.
This initiative aims to improve cyber security knowledge within NatWest, specifically for staff supporting clients in the charitable sector. Recent activities included a webinar for Relationship Managers who work with charities, designed to equip them with information on how to guide customers towards NCRCG's in-person training and online tools. NatWest plans to expand this education to Relationship Managers in other sectors in the future, with the intention of serving a broader range of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across its customer base.
Training and resources
Beyond the collaboration with NCRCG, NatWest offers its own suite of online courses and webinars intended to reinforce basic cyber security skills amongst its customers. This joint effort with NCRCG forms part of NatWest's responsibilities as a Founding National Ambassador of the Group. NCRCG is comprised of a network of nine regional, police-led centres in England and Wales, providing SMEs with access to guidance and practical support on cyber resilience.
The collaboration aligns with the aim of strengthening the cyber defences of SMEs by offering reliable and accessible advice that fits different organisational requirements.
Leadership perspectives
"As cyber security threats become increasingly sophisticated, it's important we support our customers to equip themselves with the right tools and knowledge to help them improve their resilience. Through greater access to the support available from the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group, as well as our own materials and webinars, business customers should be better able to upskill their teams and strengthen their cyber security."
Chris Ulliott, Chief Information Security Officer at NatWest Group, highlighted the growing complexity of cyber threats and the importance of supporting customers with the appropriate training and resources. He noted the value of NCRCG's offerings as a key element of the bank's overall approach to customer security.
Joanna Goddard, Chief Experience Officer at NCRCG, reflected on the progress of the collaboration so far:
"We are so pleased to be working with NatWest Group to deliver this campaign, aptly timed to coincide with Cyber Security Awareness Month. From the very positive uptake we have seen on the staff webinar, it is clear that staff across the organisation understand the importance of cyber resilience and want to ensure they are in the best position to support their customers in this arena.
"As one of NCRCG's Founding National Ambassadors, the team at NatWest Group has been lending their expertise, time and resource to our collective work for several years and their keenness to level up the country's cyber resilience position has not wavered."
Network support
The NCRCG collaborates with the Home Office, police, academic institutions, and major partner organisations to deliver support through its national and regional centres. Its National Ambassador programme enables large organisations such as NatWest to participate directly in improving the UK's collective cyber resilience, particularly for SMEs that may not have in-house expertise or dedicated budgets for cyber security.
Working as part of the wider Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) network, NCRCG and its partners focus on scalable, high-quality advice and support. This includes in-person training tailored to specific business types and online content aimed at raising awareness of new and evolving cyber threats.
Future plans between NCRCG and NatWest include extending this form of staff engagement to benefit more sectors, with the goal of broadening overall SME understanding and ability to defend against cyber threats.
