Cyber Essentials Plus joins Novacroft’s security governance portfolio
Four in ten businesses and a quarter of charities report having cyber security breaches or attacks in the 12 months to March 2021*.
The adoption of digital technologies has accelerated by 3 – 4 years during the pandemic, reports McKinsey.** As a result, cyber security is increasingly critical for businesses, in areas including security/user monitoring, and deploying updates to hardware, software and systems.
Post Covid-19 risks
Evidence gathered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021 suggests that the cyber security risk level is higher now than even during the height of Covid-19, whilst Gartner reports that ransomware attacks have become more complex and more frequent.
The View from the Board of Directors Survey 2022 found that 88% of respondents viewed cybersecurity-related risk as a business risk, not just a technology risk.***
Organisations that find themselves with a cyber security breach could see serious impacts on security controls, physical security/assets, transaction processing, data, and legal/regulatory compliance.
Cyber security focus and benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus
Investment in best in class cyber security is crucial. Commenting on the latest DCMS Annual Cyber Sector Report, which shows record investment in the sector during 2020, techUK CEO Julian David said:
Reliable cyber security is essential for all organisations as they accelerate digital transformation in the wake of ongoing Covid-19 disruption.
To mitigate risk, protect customer information and demonstrate our commitment to top-level cyber security, Novacroft has successfully implemented Cyber Essentials Plus.
The Cyber Essentials scheme, backed by the UK government, specifically ensures technical controls are in place to give protection against a variety of the most common cyber attacks. Superseding our existing Cyber Essentials certification, Cyber Essentials Plus means that clients now have higher-level assurance of our cyber security, as a hands-on technical verification is carried out to verify technical controls.
This new security governance accreditation means our clients, and the communities they represent, have enhanced peace of mind over the security of the information they share. We’re proud to offer a full suite of cybersecurity standards, as Cyber Essentials Plus joins ISO 27001 and PCI DSS at Novacroft, cementing our adherence to international best practice standards covering cyber, information, and payment security.
– Tom Nelson-Conway, Chief Operating Officer, Novacroft
Novacroft delivers over 2 million customer calls and 500,000 customer emails each year, for clients including Transport for London and The Royal British Legion. The processes and protocols of our cyber security standards mean that security is at the core of each customer experience, and trust is built between our clients and their customers.. Customers can also access and upload information to their online application portals and web accounts when applying for concessionary travel or membership cards, speak to our customer service experts with queries, and make payments online or over the phone, with complete confidence that their data is secure.
Nettitude rated us at 95% for our risk management regime and 100% for user education and awareness.****
We’re constantly working to ensure the best outcomes and experiences for our clients and clients’ customers. Cyber security is an integral part of our technology roadmap and our commitment to digital transformation.
Read more: How we’re transforming customer care and experience across the UK
*Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021
**McKinsey: How COVID-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point—and transformed business forever
***Gartner, Ten Cyber and IT Risk Fundamentals You Must Get Right, July 2021
****Netitude 2021 Novacroft Gap Analysis Review