Warning to Harrogate firms as statistics reveal 'alarming scale' of cyber attacks on businesses
A highly-respected figure in the world of Harrogate PR who is a former senior journalist with The Times is launching a new consultancy to help organisations prepare for and respond to crisis events.
Well known in Harrogate – and further afield - for being one of the country's most experienced crisis communications and media specialists, Peter Davenport will bring decades of experience and expertise to Square One Consultants, which will advise organisations on how to communicate effectively in a crisis to mitigate damaging reputational impacts and their commercial consequences.
Based in Harrogate but operating nationally, this former national and international journalist with The Times and PR guru said no business or organisation was now immune from a range of new cyber threats facing Britain, in particular.
Peter Davenport said: "Everyone will be aware of the cases of high-profile businesses such as JLR, M&S, The Coop, Harrods and Heathrow Airport which have all been hit by major cyber-attacks recently but these are just the tip of the iceberg.
"The latest Government statistics estimate that in the last 12 months some 612,000 businesses and 61,000 charities have been the targets of cyber breaches.
"This is just one of the many risks that businesses face today and the consequences can range from the merely annoying to operational devastation costing £hundreds of millions.
"The statistics show that no business or organisation is immune. It is sound commercial sense to assume that you will also be hit at some stage and to plan accordingly.”
In a distinguished journalistic career, the cool-headed Davenport covered major crises including Bloody Sunday, the Hillsborough tragedy and the bombing of PanAm 103 at Lockerbie, while on assignment in more than 20 countries.
All that experience at the ground level of history has taught him one thing above all – there are fundamental principles to be followed irrespective of the sector, nature or timing of the crisis.
“In a crisis it is important that organisations can call on external advisers with proven expertise who can remain calm, think clearly, advise wisely and communicate effectively in a challenging environments,” said Peter Davenport.