Micro Focus International : Celebrating Safer Internet Day is ‘Together for a Better Internet’

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Micro Focus is delighted to support Safer Internet Day on 9 February 2021, a global initiative to create a safer internet for all, with particular focus on children and young adults. This year's theme for Safer Internet Day is 'Together for a Better Internet' - and together with our employees, Micro Focus is taking this opportunity to further inspire positive change and raise awareness about online safety. Ensuring a safe and secure online experience for all aligns to our commitment as a socially responsible and sustainable organisation. Through Micro Focus INSPIRE, our company-wide corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, our social purpose is to help equip communities with the right skills to be successful in their digital future - and enabling a safe online experience is an important part of it.

Why now?

COVID-19 has brought many changes to our lives and forced us to rethink approaches to many things we took for granted. It has accelerated the move to digital with many aspects of our lives being digitally transformed overnight, from our work, to our children's schooling to how we engage with friends and family. This has also meant that those without the rights skills, access to wifi or a device have been further excluded. More than ever, this has reinforced the importance of supporting communities around the world - equipping them with the right skills to be successful in their digital futures. Through Micro Focus INSPIRE, and as a supporter of Safer Internet Day, Micro Focus is encouraging its employees to connect with their local schools, charities and community groups and guide them on what they need to know and do to stay safe online.

In October 2019, we re-designed our in-person volunteering workshop, Staying Safe Online, to be delivered virtually to school students. Our employees have since volunteered to deliver the workshop to more than 1,000 students virtually in the UK in partnership with the Education Business Partnership (EBP)'s Hi-Tech Horizons program. As part of the program, Micro Focus has pledged our commitment to help reach 50,000 students over the next five years. During the workshops, Micro Focus employees talk to students about how they can stay safe online, and how we help our customers keep their businesses secure in today's digital world.

In expert hands.

Our cyber security experts have also been involved in delivering these programs and giving students insights into the importance of staying safe online. Although helping communities acquire the skills to safely bank online, talk to their family through Zoom or study online is really important, we also have a role to play in inspiring young people about their future career opportunities in technology - and that every job will require digital skills, irrespective of industry. Inspiring the next generation is critical in helping address the shortage of tech talent, which affects our business, our customers and society more broadly. To realise the full benefits of digital transformation we need more talent entering the industry, but we also need to do a better job of attracting returners, keeping talent in the industry, and ensuring we have talent from diverse backgrounds. In Costa Rica, Micro Focus employees have partnered with the Ministry of Education and global charity Inspiring Girls International to deliver virtual programs to hundreds school students and graduates to inspire them about future careers in technology, and also to help them prepare for the world of work.

At Micro Focus, we take the online safety of our employees, customers and partners seriously. From how we manage data within our organisation, to how we help our customers stay cyber resilient, our employees cyber-aware, and promote safe online practices within communities as part of Micro Focus INSPIRE.

Don't hesitate to find me on Twitter or LinkedIn if you'd like to talk more.

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