IT security has been on everyone’s minds this year – if you follow the news you can hardly have missed it. We’ve written articles which have appeared on this blog as well as in education magazines and business publications which highlighted how cyber attacks work and more importantly, how to protect against them. We were keen to share these articles because we think it’s important to keep up to date and take control of your IT security. That’s also why we decided to follow our own advice and get the company certified for Cyber Essentials.
Implement basic protection
Cyber Essentials aims to help organisations implement basic levels of protection against cyber attack. It has become a prerequisite for some companies looking to supply to public sector organisations to be certified, which shows how seriously the government is taking the various threats to IT security. It also shows that organisations – from businesses to schools and public sector providers – need to take the initiative and make sure they are protected.
Five key controls
The Cyber Essentials programme has developed a robust system of self-assessment against five key controls:
- Firewalls
- Secure configuration
- User access control
- Malware protection
- Patch management
Take IT security seriously
We have gained the Cyber Essentials certification not only to protect JSPC, but to ensure we have the latest knowledge and best-practice frameworks available to help our clients get informed and protected about IT security threats. The certification is an outward sign to demonstrate how seriously we take security at JSPC. Also, as an accreditation that should be renewed annually, it demonstrates we are committed to staying up to date and on top of the latest security threats.
If you’re interested in getting accredited for Cyber Essentials, you can find out more here: www.cyberstreetwise.com\cyberessentials.
If you’re concerned that your skills or your equipment won’t pass the assessment, you’re welcome to give us a call and we can talk through the requirements and any additional training or investment you might need.