We are pleased to announce we have successfully achieved Cyber Essentials certification. Attaining this certification demonstrates that our IT security practices meet the guidance of the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre, and shows our commitment to improving our IT security and protecting our systems and data from potential cyber-attacks.
As a company we chose to apply for this certification; to gain a clearer picture of our cyber security level, to ensure our policies and procedures are in line with the recommended best practices, and to offer reassurance to all our customers that we have taken proactive steps to protect our IT infrastructure and data from potential attacks.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a simple and effective Government backed scheme that helps you protect your organisation against a range of the most common cyber-attacks.
How does Cyber Essentials Work?
Cyber Essentials sets out five controls which you can implement to immediately strengthen your organisations cyber defences.
1. Use a firewall to secure your internet connection.
This effectively creates a buffer zone between your organisations IT network and other external networks. With this buffer zone in place incoming traffic can be analysed to determine whether it should be allowed in onto your network.
2. Choose the most secure settings for your devices and software.
Manufacturers often set the default configurations of new software and devices to be as open and multi-functional as possible. So, you should always check the settings of new software and devices and where possible, make changes which raise your level of security.
3. Control who has access to your data and services.
To prevent any potential damage that could occur if an account is misused or stolen, staff accounts should just have access to the software, settings and functions needed to perform their role.
4. Protect your organisation from viruses and other malware.
Ensure that your devices have anti-virus software enabled this simple step makes you instantly safer.
5. Keep your software up to date.
No matter what device you use its important the manufacturer still supports the device with regular security updates and that you install these updates when available.