Tech firm Gateway is to highlight the need for cybersecurity.

The firm has signed up Michael Sutton, chief information security officer of the world’s largest cloud-based cybersecurity firm, Zscaler, to visit the island this week to meet people interested in beefing up the safety of their computer systems.

A spokesman for Hamilton-based Gateway said: “The world, and Bermuda, has seen a marked increase in cybersecurity incidents, specifically ransomware.

“The latest variants can encrypt all the data on a PC or Mac and could also spread to corporate network drives.”

Users are affected by ransomware by clicking on a phishing link in an e-mail or visiting a website that has been compromised or is hosting a compromised advertising network.”

The Gateway spokesman said: “Recent attacks have even leveraged legitimate Bermuda websites by redirecting regular links to download malicious files.

“Some attacks are enterprise-centric and demand large payments to recover data. However, the main cost to businesses and institutions is downtime and disruption to business.”

The spokesman said that, rather than paying a ransom or recovering systems from backups, it was better to use the best tools available to protect computers and systems.

Anyone interested in discussing security with Mr Sutton, who will be on-island on Wednesday and Thursday, should contact Eric Buckingham at eric@gateway.bm or call 292-0341.

• Update: this story has been amended to correct the surname of cybersecurity expert Michael Sutton