Posts Tagged ‘Cyber Security’
Sandra Quinn first female recipient of Cyber Security Accreditation
Sandra becomes first female recipient of Cyber Security certification thanks to Skill Up programme
Sandra Quinn from Cookstown recently became the first female student in Northern Ireland to receive cyber security certification following her completion of the OCN NI Level 4 Certificate in Cyber Security at South West College, supported by the Skill Up Programme.
Sandra is employed by Outsource Solutions and following 7 years as an Account Manager and feeling she had gone as far as she could in the role, she received a recommendation for the Cyber Security programme at South West College and quickly enrolled on the 15-week part time programme.
Reflecting upon the opportunity, Sandra said that as a mature student returning to study she felt very much at ease on the course and added that she was able to complete the course around her work and family commitments. Sandra believes the course ‘gave her an edge and helped add benefit to her customers.’ The course also provided a stepping stone for Sandra to undertake a follow-on Cyber Essentials course.
Nicola Quinn, Head of Business and Industry Support, South West College, added;
“The Skill-Up programme has been designed to provide new training opportunities for those engaged in the workforce in Northern Ireland and courses have been developed in collaboration with employers to meet the needs of local industry emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sandra’s success on the Cyber Security programme demonstrates the impact that Skill Up can have and why it is vital to reskill and upskill our workforce and we are delighted that through her completion of the training, Sandra has been promoted to the position of Cyber Security Consultant with Outsource Solutions.”
Further information about the Skill Up programme alongside a list of courses available can be found on the South West College website at Skill Up | South West College (swc.ac.uk)
Outsource Group partners with US-based cyber security provider Palo Alto in significant new deal
Outsource Group has partnered with California-based Palo Alto Networks – the world’s leading cyber security firm – in a new deal that sees the Antrim-headquartered company become the only Palo Alto Cortex Managed Security Service Provider Partner (MSSP) on the island of Ireland.
The arrangement is expected to be worth several million pounds in new business to Outsource Group. The exclusive status means Outsource Group can sell, configure and deploy Palo Alto Networks’ highly regarded suite of AI-powered cyber security products across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with Palo Alto’s full confidence and support.
The company has invested over one million pounds on its journey to become an approved Palo Alto Cortex MSSP. This has included investment in staff, training and cutting-edge technology, achieving a range of technical certifications and a rigorous Palo Alto Networks assessment process.
Terry Moore CEO Outsource Group says that this is another step on Outsource Group’s journey to become “the number one security partner of choice for businesses across the UK and Ireland”.
“As a security first focused business, it made perfect sense for us to partner with Palo Alto Networks, the global leader in cyber security, as we continue to build on our existing security focused solutions and services,” he says.
“This gives us a unique position in the marketplace, combining Outsource Group’s expertise, knowledge and experience on the ground in the UK and Ireland, with Palo Alto’s technology which is breaking new ground in the use of AI for cyber security defence,” he continues.
“The rigorous assessment undertaken by Palo Alto of Outsource Group’s expertise and capabilities and the ultimate agreement to enter into a working partnership and formal appointment of Outsource as the only Cortex MSSP on the island is a strong endorsement of our strategic security first approach,” he adds.
The new arrangement represents the latest significant investment by Outsource Group in its cyber security offering. In recent years, Outsource Group also acquired ANSEC AI, considered one of the leading cyber security consultancy businesses in the UK and Ireland. The company currently counts some of the largest, most complex and most cyber security-focused organisations in Europe as customers.
Cyber Security Is Essential in our Digitally Connected World.
According to Forbes “The year 2020 broke all records when it came to data lost in breaches and sheer numbers of cyber-attacks on companies, government, and individuals.”
Ignoring the problem of cyber crime only increases the threat risk, potential reputational damage and financial loss to your business. Use of online services, smart devices and digital transformation across every industry means that cyber security is not just an issue for enterprise business’, but for SME’s, smaller business’ and individuals alike.
If you spend anytime online you should consider how cyber-safe your devices, network and personal data are.
At Outsource we believe in leading by example. As we advise, support and implement security controls for customers the least we can do is make the effort to prove our own internal security protocols are strong enough to pass rigorous independent audits and challenges on an annual basis.
We have been independently assessed and been awarded certification to confirm that we comply with the requirements of the Cyber Essentials Plus Standard.
Theses audits includes external/internal penetration testing and comprehensive reviews of areas including;
– Boundary Firewalls & Internet Gateways
– Secure Configuration
– Patch Management
– Access Gateway (User accounts)
– Malware Protection
No business can ever be 100% secure against external threats, but accreditations such as CE and definitely CE Plus will mitigate your exposure significantly.
What is Cyber Essentials?
In order to adopt good practices in information security, the UK government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills released a government-endorsed scheme called Cyber Essentials in 2014.
The scheme was introduced to ensure the protection of data, and to help companies understand how data can be used, secured, or compromised. The scheme ensures that data is protected from common cyber threats online. Organisations can gain one of two Cyber Essentials badges, and it’s backed by the Federation of Small Businesses, the CBI, and many insurance companies who offer incentives to businesses.
The Cyber Essentials certification is required for any suppliers to the UK government who handle any sensitive and personal information, and any companies bidding for government contracts must achieve this certification.
Cyber Essentials Plus is the highest credential offered by the NCSC.
Cyber security threats are constantly evolving and what works today won’t necessarily work tomorrow, which is why it’s so important to continually review and refine strategies to keep your business safe and protected.
At Outsource we are committed to continually developing our processes and striving to deliver the highest possible standards that everyone can benefit from.
To find out more about ways you can assess and improve your business readiness to security vulnerabilities get in touch.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) website also has further info on Cyber Essentials Plus Certification as well as advice and steps you can take to protect you and your business from cyber crime.
