A week-long series of events next year aims to help organisations and individuals in Scotland tackle the rising tide of cybercrime.

CyberScotland Week in February and March 2024 seeks to engage the country’s businesses, organisations and individuals on ‘cybersecurity and awareness’. 

Recent data revealed there were there were approximately 2.39 million instances of cybercrime and approximately 49,000 instances of fraud as a result of cybercrime in the last 12 months.

The event series is brought together by the CyberScotland Partnership, led by the Scottish Government, Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland and Police Scotland.

It will bring experts together for a packed programme designed to build cyber resilience across the country for a packed schedule of events between February 26 and March 3 2024.

Among the themes will be collaboration, diversity and cyber resilience, and promoting a ‘shared vision around intelligence sharing, strategies, resources and ideas.’

CyberScotland Week delivered over a hundred events online and in person last year, with 2024’s edition expected to reach even greater numbers.

Several events will be taking place, offering guests an opportunity to educate themselves about online safety, while businesses can learn how to build more robust cyber defences.

Futurescot, for example, will be uniting government and industry figures to analyse and discuss how to improve cyber resilience levels across the country.  

In the last two years, Futurescot has featured former NSA Director Admiral (Ret’d) Mike Rogers and David J Scott, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division.

Next year’s event will feature a similar calibre of high-profile speakers from home and abroad.

Clare El Azebbi, chair of the CyberScotland Partnership, said: “CyberScotland Week offers businesses, individuals, and organisations a chance to learn about the support available across the partnership.

“Events taking place across Scotland, from Lerwick to Lockerbie, will not only educate business owners on how to embed resilience within their practices, but will also provide valuable insights for individuals of all ages on how best to protect themselves online. By raising awareness of online threats  and sharing accessible, comprehensive advice on how to combat it, CyberScotland Week is set to help create a more resilient and protected Scotland.”