Emplas has successfully retained the Cyber Essentials Accreditation for the second year in a row, helping to safeguard protection against cyber-attack.
Ransomware attacks are big business, which a number of window and door companies have found out to their cost.
The slightest breach in IT security and systems can come crashing down, every piece of data, every piece of software encrypted by criminals, who then charge a release fee – often running to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The Government-backed National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) scheme is designed to support businesses in protecting themselves against cyber-attack including ransomware and viruses.
Emplas first secured the Cyber Essentials accreditation in December 2021, following an eight-month programme of investment including a major upgrade of its network, servers, power supplies, virus software – and most importantly cultural change.
It’s now successfully completed a reassessment of its IT infrastructure and processes to successfully retain the accreditation for a second year.
Quang Dinh, Head of IT, Emplas, said: “We were targeted by ransomware in March 2021, simply by someone plugging an android phone into their laptop to charge it.
“On that occasion we were able to close-down the attack and recover things very quickly, but it prompted us to review our security systems and complete a major upgrade of our infrastructure and protocols and ultimately we secured the Cyber Essentials Accreditation.
“To retain it is massively important to our business. Our service offer, EVA, bar code tracking, real-time updates on deliveries and allocated delivery slots – it’s built around IT, so we need to make sure that it’s secure to guarantee business continuity.”
According to the latest government Cyber Security Breaches Survey, UK businesses identified at least one cyber-attack on their operations in the last 12-months.
According to figures from NCSC Cyber Essentials, accredited certified companies cut their risk of cyber-attack by 98.5%.
“It’s about stability and security of supply for our customers”, continued Quang. “We know that a number of fabricators and IGU fabricators have been targeted in the last year and that we will continue to be targeted.
“There is always going to be a risk for any business but we have significantly lowered that risk through the investment that we have made and the training that we’ve given to our people.”
