SSAIB, the UK and Ireland security, fire and telecare certification body, has gained the UK Government-endorsed Cyber Essentials Plus standard. The aim of the UK’s Cyber Essentials scheme is to prevent most common cyber attacks and sets out IT security controls to help protect an organisation against cyber threats to its systems and software.
The scheme comprises two levels: level one, Cyber Essentials, requires a self-assessment questionnaire, with responses independently reviewed by an external certifying body. Cyber Essentials Plus covers the same requirements, but with tests of an organisation’s systems carried out by an external certifying body.
The inspectorate says it means SSAIB becomes the first certification body within the security and fire sectors to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus, demonstrating to its 1700 registered firms, besides insurers, the police, end users, specifiers and others that it takes the issue of IT protection seriously.
SSAIB’s chief executive Alex Carmichael, pictured, said: “It’s great to see the organisation being awarded with Cyber Essentials Plus as it shows that we are fully committed to IT security.
“We’ll also be passing on useful information about cyber security and what can be done to prevent attacks to our registered firms, in an effort to help them become more aware of the threats that cyber-attacks can bring. As the scheme points out, even a simple virus or piece of malware could result in loss of company and client data, disrupt your cashflow and take up staff time, so it’s important to be aware and take these sensible security precautions.”
As Government minister for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock pointed out in a recent speech, encouraging UK businesses to adopt the scheme, the UK Government requires all suppliers which handle sensitive data to hold a Cyber Essentials certificate.
