LOCAL businesses heard from a Worcestershire based IT expert about what’s coming next in the technology sector and how having strong cyber security is all the more important in 2016 at FinditinWorcestershire’s July breakfast event.

At "The Future of Business and Technology" meeting at Worcester's Sixways stadium, Paul Colwell, technical director of OGL Computer, helped members establish whether their IT strategy is fit for modern day business.

Mr Colwell explained how both the internet and the cloud are revolutionising the way the world uses data. "Through the cloud, more than 200 million emails are sent every 60 seconds and OGL’s Data Centre stores one million gigabytes of data," he added. "By 2020, it has been estimated that businesses will allocate significantly more of their IT budget to the cloud than traditional IT services."

He also stressed the importance of cyber security, saying that the National Crime Agency claims cyber crime has surpassed traditional crime in the UK. Studies have suggested that 74 per cent of businesses will have a security incident in 2016, with an average cost of a security breach at £35,000.

Mr Colwell said that while many SME’s think their business is too small to be of interest to a hacker, all businesses are susceptible to a cyber security breach. He explained the problems that small businesses face, instances of SEO fraud and the best way delegates can protect their businesses.

After the presentations, delegates had the opportunity to visit the Digital Showcase exhibition and see the technological skills and expertise the county has to offer. Exhibitors at the event included OGL Computer, Superfast Broadband, National Cyber Skills Centre, Borwell and many more.

Lorna Jeynes, business growth manager at Worcestershire County Council, said: “With the latest innovations in technology such as cloud computing and big data, all businesses, no matter the size have access to the same level of technology, whereas before you would have needed servers or mainframes. This is a great leap forward but businesses need to make sure they have measures in place to protect against the threat of a cyber security breech.

"Paul brilliantly explained these threats for small businesses in an interesting way and I am sure many attendees went back to the office to look at their cyber security.”