Shropshire Chamber of Commerce has been marking Cyber Awareness Month with a series of events and promotions to help businesses harness the power of technology.

A discounted Cyber Essentials certification package is being offered to members, making it easier and more affordable for businesses to take the first step toward recognised cyber resilience.

The Chamber is also showcasing its member companies which are IASME‑accredited, meaning they can guide businesses through the process from initial readiness checks to full certification.

They are CNI Security Solutions and Round Cyber from Telford, plus Shrewsbury-based companies Start Tech and Securebtyes Solutions.

The highlight of the Chamber’s tech-themed events calendar was an AI for Business seminar at The Quad in Telford, which brought together some of the county’s leading experts to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence.

A packed audience gathered to hear from speakers including Alex Whittles and Lewis Prince from Purple Frog Data, Archie Homer and Parmjit Chima from Harper Adams University, and Karen Turner-Atkinson from Imagine Training.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to educate individuals and organisations on best practice for staying safe online – and is particularly timely with the critical cyber-security flaws revealed this week in programming which powers much of the internet.

The Chamber is shining a spotlight on the breadth of expertise available across its membership, helping businesses understand the real-world threats they face and the straightforward steps they can take to reduce their exposure.

“Statistics show that nearly half of UK SMEs experienced some form of cyber incident over the past year,” said chief executive Ruth Ross.

“This is why we are so keen to ensure members take advantage of the practical, affordable support we have to offer.”

The Government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey says that cyber attacks are now a persistent challenge across all sectors, with organisations reporting a wide range of issues including phishing, and weak passwords.

To help businesses strengthen their defences, Shropshire Chamber offers a discounted Cyber Essentials certification package, giving members a clear and structured way to protect their operations against the most common cyber threats.

Ruth Ross added: “It clearly makes a difference, because latest statistics show that organisations with the Government‑backed certification are 92% less likely to make a cyber insurance claim.

"Every organisation relies on digital systems to operate, communicate and serve customers, which means cyber resilience has become a core business responsibility.

“By combining trusted local expertise, Government-backed accreditation and practical member benefits, we want to make it easier for businesses of all sizes to take meaningful action and protect themselves against growing online threats."