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Digital Safety CIC

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United Kingdom
Chester-le-Street
Digital Safety CIC

Our prime objective is to increase public awareness and digital safety for all .

Experience and trust are paramount to successfully responding to any digital threat, whether in prevention and identifying risk, or correctly handling a security breach. Our core team of subject matter experts offer operational and technical knowledge in proactive and reactive technology, people, and processes. The team are highly-skilled in information gathering, analysis, and investigation. Thei

r background includes law enforcement, professional project management, technical and systems engineering, and all have a deep understanding and seasoned experience of legislation and ethical issues. Using a unique combination of specialisms including risk assessment, data protection, innovative technology and international systems security, they are well-placed to deliver a diverse range of trusted security support, business change and introduce safer systems, networks, and behaviours. And as a profit-for-purpose organisation, we are able to focus on our mission to benefit the digital wellbeing of the public.

08/08/2025

Question of the week:

🔑 Do you use a password memoriser or memorise yourself?

Let us know in the comments below!

07/08/2025

The Internet Never Forgets: A Digital Safety Reminder

Remembering Jack Karlson - better known as “Mr. Democracy Manifest” has passed away at the age of 82. He became internet-famous not by choice, but when a 1991 news clip of his arrest resurfaced and went viral in 2009.

🕒 One video. Filmed 33 years ago. Viral for 15 years. Still shared today.

It’s a powerful reminder that once something is online, it can last a lifetime - and beyond.
Even if you delete a post, someone else may have already saved, shared, or archived it.

⚠️ Why this matters:
That quick video, offhand comment, or silly post might seem harmless now - but it could come back when you least expect it. Whether it's career opportunities, personal safety, or public reputation, your digital footprint plays a role.

🔐 Stay in control of your digital identity:

Think before you post

Curate your presence carefully

Assume everything leaves a trace

The internet has a long memory — make sure it remembers you for the right reasons.

Need a digital safety session for your organisation? Let’s talk — we tailor training for all ages.

Contact us at [email protected]

05/08/2025

🍽️ Summer Support Spotlight | Affordable Family Meals at IKEA

We know school holidays can put extra pressure on families — especially when it comes to food costs. That’s why it’s important to highlight practical, accessible options that ease the burden.

🟢 IKEA is offering hot meals in their restaurants from as little as £1.50, with kids’ options starting from just 95p. Whether it’s a warm lunch out or a low-cost treat during the day, these small savings can make a big difference.

🔗 Find out what’s on offer near you: www.ikea.com/gb/en/food/salesareas/restaurant/

At Digital Safety CIC, we’re committed to sharing resources that support wellbeing, digital inclusion, and family life — both online and off. If you're working with families this summer, please share this.

Together, we can keep communities connected, informed, and supported.

Besides, who doesn't love an Ikea meatball?!

04/08/2025

Passwords: Your First Line of Defence⁠
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65% of people reuse passwords across multiple platforms - making your business an easy target. A dedicated password manager like KeePass could be the difference between safety and a cyber breach.⁠
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Ready to level up your password security? Contact us to discuss training your team today.⁠
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01/08/2025

💡 Did You Know? | Ransomware & Lost Data

Ransomware attacks don’t just lock you out – they can destroy backup data and grind a business to a halt. Whether you’re a small team or a global enterprise, the impact can be devastating.

👉 Swipe through to learn:

How often does ransomware hits backups

What happens when victims pay the ransom

The surprising (and sobering) stats on data recovery

Knowledge is power. Understanding these risks is the first step to protecting yourself, your business, and your community.

Let’s start the conversation.
What steps are you taking to safeguard your data?

Want to level up your security? Harvey is our in-house expert and is always happy to help - reach out to him at [email protected]

31/07/2025

Paying the ransom? Not for long.

The UK government is moving to ban ransom payments across public sector and critical infrastructure, while requiring all businesses to notify authorities before paying.

Why?
To cut off the cash flow fuelling cybercrime
To strengthen national resilience
To drive preparedness across sectors

That means organisations must now:
✅ Build full-scope incident response plans
✅ Maintain clean, off-network backups
✅ Test cross-team readiness regularly (legal, IT, comms)

Is your team ready to face a ransomware event tomorrow?

Let’s build that plan — before the breach.
Contact us today - [email protected]

28/07/2025

Why networking matters (and what comes next).

Earlier this month, Harvey, Security Architect, attended a brilliant Devon Chamber of Commerce event as part of their City Conversations series - a gathering of local leaders, changemakers, and businesses exploring how we shape the future of our region together.

What stood out most? A shared commitment to collaboration - across marine conservation, infrastructure, digital safety and inclusive innovation.

At Digital Safety CIC, we're proud to contribute through initiatives like our free Web & App Vulnerability Scanning Tool for Chamber members - helping organisations protect their digital spaces.

But events like this also spark real connection. One example: Harvey introduced Christina Wilkins, who’s developing an AI-driven finance tool for neurodiverse entrepreneurs, to Lucy Smith of inclusivechange.co.uk. Two powerful missions now linked.

That’s what networking is about — finding shared purpose, creating new possibilities, and backing one another to go further.

Harvey Ellams, Security Architect, Digital Safety CIC

25/07/2025

🎮 Welcome to the Team, George!

We’re thrilled to officially welcome George to the Digital Safety CIC team, where he’ll be heading up our Gaming section.

George brings a brilliant mix of experience, energy, and passion for using gaming as a tool for engagement, education, and shaping a more positive digital culture. As more young people connect with the world through games, George’s role will be crucial in helping us support schools, communities, and organisations to better understand both the opportunities and the risks in this space.

Here’s what George had to say about joining DS:

“I’m extremely excited to join the dedicated team here at DS. I know we’re going to go on to support as many young people, community workers, teachers, etc. as we possibly can. Watch this space.”
We couldn’t agree more – there’s so much to be excited about.

🎥 The video below was filmed by Charlotte, who joined us on work experience during our recent careers event — and it captures George doing what he does best: confidently communicating the positive power of gaming and inspiring the next generation.

Keep an eye on our channels as George gets stuck into some exciting new projects. If you’re interested in how gaming can be a force for good in your school or community, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 [email protected]
📨 Or reach out to George directly: [email protected]

24/07/2025

One final highlight from the NWG Innovation Festival 2025, we wanted to give a special mention to someone whose work often speaks for itself – the brilliant Photographer Daniel Spencer

Daniel was behind the lens at this year’s festival, capturing the energy, connection and moments that really mattered. His attention to detail, calm professionalism, and ability to quietly get the shot without disrupting the moment is nothing short of amazing.

Whether it’s a candid interaction between our team and students, a perfectly lit speaker shot, or one of his signature dynamic crowd captures – Daniel has a gift for translating the feel of an event into powerful imagery.

Some words about Daniel from our CEO, Barbara Spooner MBE:

“Working with Daniel is always an absolute pleasure. He has a rare mix of warmth, intuition, and technical expertise that allows him to be both present and invisible in the best possible way.

The photos he captured at the Innovation Festival weren’t just beautiful – they told the story of our purpose, our people, and our impact. That’s a real skill, and one we’re very lucky to benefit from. Thank you, Daniel.”

We’re so grateful to have him as part of our extended Digital Safety family – the content he produces helps us showcase our mission in a visually powerful way, and we know how lucky we are to have him on board.

Keep an eye out as we continue to share more of Daniel’s photos across our channels – and if you’re ever looking for a photographer who truly understands how to capture people, purpose and professionalism in a single frame, we can’t recommend him highly enough.

To work with Daniel or view more of his portfolio, head to:

👉 https://www.dandan.uk/

23/07/2025

Harvey E. doesn’t just follow best practices - he helps define them.

As our Security Architect, Harvey brings a solutions-driven mindset shaped by years in public sector forensics and secure systems delivery across local government and enterprise clients.

His career spans building forensic kits for complex investigations, running national infrastructure assessments, and guiding senior leaders through cyber risk. Today, he designs modern security architectures built to withstand real-world threats - leading our work in RBAC implementation, DevSecOps, and compliance with ISO27001 and GDPR.

Harvey is a rare blend of strategic insight and hands-on expertise. He bridges technical and business teams with ease, and actively shapes security policy at the highest levels.

He’s also a passionate technologist, immersed in pe*******on testing, digital forensics, and programming. His Medium course on Clojure is just one example of his commitment to sharing knowledge and supporting the open-source community.

Harvey isn’t just a security lead - he’s a trusted advisor and forward-thinker in digital safety, and we feel very lucky to have him as part of our team.

22/07/2025

This is what Gill does best.
Inspire. Educate. Connect.

From classrooms to conferences, Gill brings a powerful combination of academic insight and practical care - helping young people, educators, and communities feel confident and informed in the digital world.

"Proud to bring my expertise in digital inclusion, safeguarding, and ethical tech to Digital Safety CIC - supporting communities to stay safe, resilient, and confident online. With a passion for responsible innovation, I champion accessible digital education and systems that put people first."

Let’s build a safer digital future, together.

🔗 Connect with me: linkedin.com/in/gill-hagan-green-6a6b07b

21/07/2025

We’re delighted to welcome Stuart to the DS-CIC team. With over 26 years of law enforcement experience - including his role as a cybercrime detective - Stuart brings both deep technical knowledge and a
human-first approach to every challenge.

At DS, he plays a key role in helping organisations build stronger cyber resilience, guiding school communities through the complexities of online life, and training professionals in cryptocurrency investigations.

From blockchain forensics to classroom safety, Stuart’s mission is clear: make the digital world safer, smarter, and more accessible for everyone.
We’re incredibly proud to have him on board.

Address

Lambton Park
Chester-le-Street
DH34AN

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 4pm

Website

https://www.ds-cic.com/, https://linktr.ee/DigitalSafetycic

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