Cybersecurity is a vital part of every business. In the digital age, where every company needs multiple computers and electronic devices to operate effectively, keeping your data and infrastructure secure has never been more crucial.
One of the best ways to ensure that your company has quality cybersecurity processes in place and that it complies with data protection laws such as GDPR is to work with IT support experts.
Texaport specialises in offering a wide range of cybersecurity and GDPR services, as well as our IT management services. Thanks to the expertise of our experienced staff, we can help your business to stay safe and manage its technology effectively.
While we know the importance of working with an experienced IT support team more than most, we also know that cybersecurity needs to be the focus of every employee in your organisation.
That’s why we’re a Cyber Essentials accredited business. We can help your team through the certification process to earn their Cyber Essentials certification and understand the cyber threats that your company faces every day.
For companies that want to learn more about the Cyber Essentials scheme, then we’ve got you covered in this latest blog post.
What Is The Cyber Essentials Scheme?
The Cyber Essentials scheme is a Government-backed scheme that launched in 2014 to help businesses throughout the corporate market to show their commitment to cybersecurity and improve their understanding of this issue.
Managed by the National Cyber Security Centre, Cyber Essentials has two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.
Cyber Essentials is the basic level of self-assessment and offers you and your team the chance to learn about common cyber threats and how criminals can use technology to access your company’s personal information.
As the name suggests, Cyber Essentials Plus provides the same information and insight, but instead of self-assessment, you need to have your skills verified in a technical examination. As such, this level of certification is more valuable to your business and shows a more significant commitment to cyber safety.
Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification isn’t crucial for most businesses, but if your company bids on Government contracts that involve sensitive information, then you need to obtain Cyber Essentials certification.
For most businesses, using the Cyber Essentials scheme is optional but highly recommended. It can help you and your team to show your clients that you are dedicated to keeping their personal information safe and implementing the latest cybersecurity controls. Also, one added benefit of using the Cyber Essentials scheme is that you receive complimentary Cyber Liability Insurance worth £25,000. This certification, combined with the knowledge that the Cyber Essentials certification offers, is highly valuable to your company.
As such, there’s no reason why your organisation shouldn’t consider obtaining Cyber Essentials certification. Cyber Essentials Plus is an ideal solution for companies that want to show customers their commitment. However, if your business only wants to improve its skills, then the basic certification is perfectly adequate.
At Texaport, we take a holistic approach to Cyber Essentials certification. We understand that the Cyber Essentials certification is only the beginning- you need to take any relevant precautions, even if the Cyber Essentials scheme does not mention them.
We work with businesses throughout the UK and across the corporate market, helping them to achieve their Cyber Essentials certification.
Why Should Businesses Consider Cyber Essentials Certification?
There are many reasons why your business should consider committing to the Cyber Essentials scheme and getting their Cyber Essentials, or Cyber Essentials Plus, certification.
One of the most significant reasons to consider Cyber Essentials is that you can reduce the chances of a cyber attack. Cyber attacks devest businesses, as they often cause significant disruption for many weeks. If your team knows what controls to put in place to prevent an attack, then you’re less likely to deal with the damaging repercussions.
You might also incur a fine or penalty if the Government believes that you did not do everything within your power to protect your company from the cyber attack. Even if you have Cyber Essentials certification, if you haven’t used it effectively, then you could incur a hefty fine.
Cyber Essentials can teach you, and your staff, how to stay safe and reduce the chances of an attack. Through the Cyber Essentials certification process, you’ll learn common cybersecurity controls and how to implement them in your business.
When you’ve completed the self-assessment, or obtained your Cyber Essentials Plus certification process, then you can use the logo to show your clients that your company commits to cyber safety.
Finally, obtaining Cyber Essentials, or Cyber Essentials Plus certification is easier than you might think. All you need to do is collaborate with a team of experts, such as us.
Texaport is committed to working with a wide range of companies and helping them to understand common cyber threats and put in place the controls needed to prevent them. As such, if you work with us, you’ll earn your Cyber Essentials certification and understand how to put controls in place to evade common cyber threats.
Why Do You Need To Update Your Skills?
Once you’ve achieved your Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification, it’s easy to think that the hard work is over.
However, there’s more that you need to do to keep your company secure. After all, the cybersecurity market is continually evolving, as criminals find new ways to hack into systems and exploit vulnerabilities. So, your Cyber Essentials training will quickly become outdated if you don’t continue to hone your skills. Also, data protection regulations are revised and improved regularly, so your team needs to stay up to date and make sure that your cyber controls are robust enough to withstand an attack.
While your Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus training will help with this, if you don’t keep your knowledge up to date, then you might find that it’s no longer relevant. As a result, your company could be at risk of cyber attacks or data protection breaches if you don’t update your knowledge after you earn your Cyber Essentials certification.
The data that your company holds is one of its most valuable assets. It might look like a list of numbers and letters, but credit card numbers, contact details, and other information can be sold for high prices on the dark web. Many criminals commit cyber attacks to obtain this data and then hold your business to ransom over it or to sell it to the highest bidder and make a profit.
While the Cyber Essentials scheme will show your customers your commitment to cyber safety, a successful cyber attack will prove that your company isn’t implementing its security controls properly. As a result, your customers will lose faith in your company, and your reputation might never recover.
Additionally, your company might face a spot check to confirm that your Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification is up to date and that your team is implementing the techniques that the scheme teaches.
As such, you need to make sure that you stay up to date. Cyber attacks can happen at any time, and if your information, policies, and cyber controls are out of date, then they won’t protect your business.
That’s why Texaport provides a Cyber Essentials monitoring service. We install software on all of your business devices, which monitors your company and reports back any non-compliance.
As such, your business can rest assured that you will pass a spot check when you collaborate with us. You won’t need to check your staff’s work manually; we’ll make sure that they’re using the skills that the Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification taught them.
If we notice any issues, then we will report them to you and work with your team to ensure that they implement IT policies and practices that keep your data safe and reduce the chances of cyber attacks on your business.
Collaborate With A Certified Training Provider
Keep your Cyber Essentials accreditation up to date requires an in-depth knowledge of the programme. As certified Cyber Essentials training providers, the team at Texport understands how to help you and your team to maintain the standard and continue to keep your company’s IT infrastructure safe.
Our Cyber Essentials monitoring service allows you to reduce the chances of a cybersecurity breach and ensure that all staff implements their Cyber Essentials training in their work.
By working with us, you can reduce the chances of cyber attacks and ensure that, in the event of a security breach, your company is prepared.
As well as our Cyber Essentials services, we can also draft comprehensive IT policies, ensuring that you’ve always got internet connectivity and much more. As such, you can rest assured that your company is in the best possible cybersecurity position when you work with dedicated IT services professionals like us.
If you want to find out more about our services, and how we can help you to maintain your understanding of the ever-evolving IT Industry, then contact us today.
