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In today’s commercial world, cybersecurity is no longer optional – it’s essential for businesses of all sizes.
If you currently have or are considering implementing the UK government-backed Cyber Essentials certification, then this offers a solid starting point for small businesses with 2 to 50 employees. However, it’s crucial to recognise that this foundation might not be enough in the face of evolving cyber threats. Let’s explore why Cyber Essentials is valuable and why your business should consider additional protective measures.
Cyber Essentials provides a cost-effective way to implement basic cyber defences. By focusing on five key areas – firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and security updates – it helps businesses ward off common, low-level attacks. For many small enterprises, particularly those new to cybersecurity, this certification serves as an invaluable first step.
While Cyber Essentials covers the basics, it may fall short in protecting against more sophisticated, targeted attacks. Modern cybercriminals are employing advanced techniques such as session token theft, ransomware, and exploiting multi-factor authentication fatigue to breach defences. These attacks often circumvent the basic security measures that Cyber Essentials enforces.
Consider this scenario: A firewall might block unauthorised access, but it won’t necessarily prevent a well-crafted phishing attack, like session token theft, from tricking an employee into divulging sensitive information. Similarly, standard malware protection might detect common viruses but could miss more sophisticated threats designed to evade detection.
For businesses seeking additional assurance, Cyber Essentials Plus offers an external audit and a hands-on technical review. This provides a deeper level of scrutiny and can uncover vulnerabilities that the original self-assessment might overlook. However, even this enhanced certification may not fully protect against all forms of cybercrime.
To truly safeguard your business in today’s cyber environment, consider implementing these additional measures:
For businesses handling sensitive data or operating in high-risk industries, more comprehensive frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 might be appropriate, offering a more detailed approach to managing information security.
A strategic IT partner can help you with this – you do not have to bear the burden alone.
After considering these additional cybersecurity measures, you may be wondering about the financial implications for your business. It’s a valid concern, and you might feel some resistance to these suggestions due to potential costs.
Let’s be frank: yes, enhancing your cybersecurity will require an investment.
However, it’s important to view this as a necessary cost of doing business today’, much like paying taxes or for insurance.
Businesses that properly invest in IT and digital security often gain a competitive advantage. Managing Directors of these forward-thinking small enterprises can focus on business development with greater peace of mind, knowing that the risk of operational shutdown or a cyber incident has been significantly reduced.
The good news is that implementing robust cybersecurity measures doesn’t have to break the bank, nor does it need to happen all at once. Building a multi-layered approach suitable for your business size is a journey – one that prioritises progress over perfection.
This is where partnering with a strategic IT and cybersecurity provider becomes invaluable. Such a partnership allows for the creation of a tailored security roadmap that aligns with your business needs and stage of growth, ensuring that your cybersecurity investment is both appropriate and effective.
Cyber Essentials provides an excellent starting point for small businesses looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture. However, as cyber threats grow in sophistication, relying solely on this certification could leave your business exposed.
Consider Cyber Essentials as the cornerstone of a broader, more comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. By layering additional protections on top of this foundation, you can better defend against the complex and evolving threats that businesses face today.
For more information on Cyber Essentials and guidance on enhancing your cybersecurity beyond the basics, visit the official Cyber Essentials website or consult with a cybersecurity professional. At Lumina, we’re committed to helping businesses build robust defence strategies tailored to their unique needs and risk profiles.
In cybersecurity, complacency will always be your downfall.
Stay proactive, stay informed, and stay secure.
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Luke Harrison
Keidan Harrison LLP
Lumina have supported us so well through the difficult circumstances of 2020. They worked extremely hard to ensure we were able to work remotely and continue to operate our business successfully. The support team are very friendly and knowledgeable, and have excellent response times.
The team have also enhanced our cyber security which is so important in the legal sector, and they continue to provide high quality advice to help us move forward with our IT goals.
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Managing Partner, Adams & Remers LLP
The quality of IT Support provided by Lumina Technology is of the highest standard and is complemented by effective client liaison with impressive response times. Trap Oil Group plc has no hesitation in recommending Lumina as a dedicated and specialist group of IT professionals.
Martin David
Technical Director, Trap Oil Group plc
Richard and his team are a real inspiration to anyone who meets them and I have watched Lumina’s growth over the last few years with interest and admiration. Richard has been an amazing supporter of the Hospice of St Francis, being a Gold member of the Corporate Partner Network for almost two years. He takes an active interest in the community and is passionate about his company and his town: nothing is too much trouble, he is always willing to help, to give up his time and to provide business advice when asked. Lumina is an inspiration to any company wanting to set up business in Hertfordshire.
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Corporate Fundraising Manager, The Hospice of St Francis
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Chief Executive Officer, Wentworth Resources PLC
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Lambert Energy Advisory
It has been a great pleasure working with Lumina Technologies over the past two years. They have fully committed to being involved in the local community with volunteering and with professional advice and commitment, helping many local charities along the way. As a growing company it proves that being involved in the local community is helping them attract and retain a talented workforce and I look forward to working with them well into the future.
Cindy Withey
Connect Dacorum
Hawkstone Management Services Ltd is a small company for which IT Outsourcing is realistically the only viable option. Lumina Technologies have successfully performed this role for over fifteen years. They also provide innovative solutions to keep pace with technological progress. I would have no hesitation in recommending Lumina to similar sized businesses.
Stephen Pembury
Hawkstone Management Services Ltd
Charles Douglas Solicitors LLP have been using Lumina Technologies for a number of years now and continue to be impressed by the technical know-how and contemporary knowledge of their senior management, who provide a timely, efficient and friendly service. Whether it is a small issue with one computer, or a strategic IT decision, they maintain a current knowledge of available technologies. Lumina are always at the other end of the phone to help resolve issues and minimise business interference. The technical knowledge of Richard and his senior team means that there has not been a problem that they can’t solve to date. I am sure we will continue to use them in the years to come.
Charles Douglas
Managing Partner, Charles Douglas Solicitors LLP
The team at Lumina Technologies have made the Amoun Travel & Tours office IT transition seamless and problem free. The office set-up has been vastly improved and the IT Support services are flawless. No issue goes unresolved, which is extremely reassuring.
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Amoun Travel & Tours Ltd
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John Bell
Group Technical Director, Salamander Energy plc
Richard and his team at Lumina have provided Perrett Laver Limited with high quality strategic and practical IT Services for over ten years. During this period, Perrett Laver has grown from 10+ colleagues based in London to nearly 100 colleagues located in six offices across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Richard and the Lumina team have not just been responsive to our ‘everyday’ IT needs, but have proactively sought to work with us on developing an infrastructure suitable for the type of operation we are today, and are planning to be months and years down the line. I would not hesitate to recommend Richard, especially for small to medium size business with growth in mind.
Clementine McKinley
COO, Perrett Laver Limited
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Simon Lucas
Managing Director, Society Limited
The Vita Group HQ staff have worked with Richard McBarnet and Lumina Technologies for over 9 years, with Lumina providing all our PC, server, phone, and software support. The services have included C-level executives based in London, Manchester, the US, as well as supporting home office IT as well. The service provided and intellectual capabilities are outstanding and we would highly recommend Richard and his Lumina team.
Joe Menendez
CEO, The Vita Group
We worked with Lumina on a GDPR Audit. Richard was knowledgeable and professional throughout, and did the best he could to bring a dry topic to life through lots of real life examples and analogies. We were so impressed with the service Lumina provided and the value we got from partnering with them on this project – we couldn’t recommend them enough.
Holly Cottingham, Vintec Laboratories
