Cyber Security Cannot Be Ignored

Businesses can no longer think “it won’t happen to me” when it comes to cyber attacks.

A data breach could easily happen to any organisation which does not have the correct protections in place, with extremely serious consequences.

WannaCry put 300,000 computers out of action in 150 countries by hacking their systems. This acts as a reminder that companies cannot afford to think “it won’t happen to me”.

Moreover, customers are now hyper-aware of such attacks and how companies handle their personal data. A serious breach could result in an organisation losing its customers and reputation.

Many small firms still fail to face up to the seriousness of the risk and “bury their heads in the sand” according to Robin Oldham, Head of Cyber Security Consulting Practice at BAE Systems. He emphasises that the costs of keeping up with digital technology in terms of cyber security is essential.

Organisations should think of the effect of an attack – the average cost is between £3,100 and £22,300 depending on the business size.

Cyber Essentials allows companies to put basic cyber hygiene in place

The process of obtaining Cyber Essentials certification looks at five basic measures that help defend against 80% of the most common cyberattacks – for both schools and businesses – and is already used by 10,000 firms in the UK, including many FTSE 100 companies.

Cyber Essentials foundation level starts at £300 excl. VAT. It is designed to provide a statement of the basic controls your organisation should have in place to mitigate the risk from common cyber threats.

This is achieved through a self-assessment process carried out under the guidance of our cyber security experts. Upon completion of the questionnaire you will receive the certification, allowing you to display the official Cyber Essentials badge on your documents and website.

You can download a sample self-assessment questionnaire to see what information your organisation will need to provide to become certified.