Cursor is now the first web design agency in Lincolnshire (and maybe the region) to achieve the Government backed Cyber Essentials standard.
Cyber Essentials has been developed by the UK Government and industry to provide a clear statement of the basic controls ALL organisations should implement to mitigate risk from common Internet based threats. Based on the Government's, 10 Steps to Cyber Security, the scheme provides a framework for organisations to demonstrate to customers, investors, insurers and partners that they take Cyber Security seriously and have implemented essential precautions.
Cyber Essentials defines a set of controls which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threats coming from the Internet. In particular, it focuses on threats which require low levels of attacker skill, and which are now widely available online. The UK Government believes that action on Cyber Security should start with a core set of security controls which all organisations, large and small should implement. Cyber Essentials defines what these controls are:
Boundary firewalls and Internet gateways: These are devices designed to prevent unauthorised access to or from private networks, but good setup of these devices in either hardware or software form is important for them to be fully effective
Secure configuration: Ensuring that systems are configured in the most secure way for the needs of the organisation
Access control: Ensuring only those who should have access to systems have access and at the appropriate level
Malware protection: Ensuring that virus and malware protection is installed and is up to date
Patch management: Ensuring that the latest supported version of applications is used and all the necessary patches supplied by the vendor have been applied.
Although Cyber Essentials is recommended by the Government for all organisations, take up of this scheme remains low. Of the 1.4 million companies in the UK, only 3,700 have achieved the Cyber Essentials standard which is less than 0.2% of businesses. We have also been unable to find any other web development businesses in Lincolnshire or beyond that currently hold the standard. We believe that web design and development companies should be leading the way in helping their customers to improve security online. Cursor would encourage all such agencies to look at the Cyber Essentials scheme as soon as possible. Customers should also insist that vendors and suppliers hold appropriate certification and cyber security insurances as a pre-qualification in tenders.
Cursor is committed to providing secure products and services to our customers, helping them understand and mitigate the risks of running a successful business online. For us, Cyber Essentials is just the first milestone in this journey and we hope to be making further announcements regarding Cyber Security and Information Assurance throughout 2017.
