Cyber-attack has been identified as one of the four highest priority and most pervasive of risks faced by the UK – the others being international terrorism, international military crises and major accidents or natural hazards. Data is now vital to everyday business operations and ensuring its confidentiality and security must be of paramount importance to any organisation, writes Simon Davies, the CEO of Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, pictured.
Some £1billion [1] was lost to online crime between March 15 and March 16 with seven in ten [2] business leaders admitting that have not taken any action to protect their business and employees from financial fraud. From a SATCOM perspective, the subject of cyber threat and cyber security related to satellite communications has been a hot topic for a while and is very much a focus of concern for the satellite market.
When using satellite connectivity, generally data has to pass through public and private terrestrial networks and the security focus shifts to ensuring end-to-end data integrity. The satellite link can often be most at risk and vulnerabilities in a network must be identified and rapidly rectified.
According to a report by IOActive called ‘Wake-up Call for SATCOM Security’ in 2014, there were a number of commercial SATCOM terminals with various vulnerabilities. Whilst these vulnerabilities will have since been mitigated, it demonstrates the potential threats by cyber-attackers to this industry, whether from an e-crime state or industrial espionage.
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd – launched in 2002 – has established itself as an international provider to defence and security, aid and emergency and commercial organisations of secure voice, data and satellite communications in locations with limited or compromised infrastructure. It is probably best known for its SlingShot system, which is a straightforward and cost-effective way to achieve tactical, secure, beyond line of sight communications on the move (COTM), using UHF and VHF radios, exclusively using Inmarsat’s L-TAC service.
Spectra is highly experienced and well-placed to provide advice and services to counter the increasing and alarming threat of cyber-attack. We are already delivering cyber solutions through our existing satellite and terrestrial networks business, so the launch this year of Spectra Cyber Security Solutions was a natural progression for the company.
Spectra Cyber Security Solutions provides defence-in-depth, with proactive testing, to identify vulnerabilities in networks and procedures and protect data. It has the know-how and experience to deliver highly bespoke security solutions to protect against cyber-attacks. It can also count on extensive experience successfully designing, delivering and maintaining networks for military organisations and government agencies. High-grade solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with business architecture, minimising downtime, ensuring data is available as and when required and is kept secure and protected from attacks throughout its lifecycle.
To enhance our clients’ security, Spectra operates a Security Operation Centre (SOC) which provides 24/7/365 network monitoring to immediately identify any breach – or potential breach – as well as providing a UK-based help desk. This enables clients to benefit from security monitoring and provides the user with a 24-hour contact if they have concerns or issues with their network.
Spectra is ISO 27001-accredited which, as an information security management standard, is clear and precise, listing 114 key security controls that should always be at the heart of any organisation’s approach to the security of its information assets.
Spectra is also fully compliant with the UK Government-backed Cyber Essentials Scheme.
Developed with the Information Security Forum (ISF), Cyber Essentials forms a robust and stringent checklist that security companies must meet to be considered eligible to work with highly sensitive information and government-level security contracts. It is also a Cisco Partner – Cisco Select Certification recognises and rewards partners that have achieved a Cisco specialisation.
Last year the UK Government unveiled a five-year National Cyber Security Strategy and announced it was investing £1.9 billion in defending its systems and infrastructure. It has also set up a new National Cyber Security Centre that will provide a hub of world-class, user-friendly expertise for businesses and individuals, as well as rapid response to major incidents.
The urgency shown by other governments worldwide in unveiling similar strategies emphasises the growing menace posed by cyber-attackers both on the battlefield and in the corporate world. Spectra has an in-house team of experts who can react to this threat and play their part in the battle against cyber warfare.
[1] Get Safe Online & Action Fraud June 16
[2] Get Safe Online & Action Fraud October 16
Visit www.spectra-group.co.uk.
