Matt Horan (front) director of cyber security firm C3IA, which is based in Poole, Dorset.
A Dorset-based cyber security company is just one of 12 in the UK that has been certified by the government’s new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
C3IA had to undergo a rigorous process to gain accreditation by the organisation, which is the public-facing part of GCHQ, the government’s spy listening hub.
The NCSC says that C3IA provides ‘cyber security services’, which meet its ‘demanding standards.’
The company, based in Poole, was formed 10 years ago by ex-military personnel, specifically those from the Royal Corps of Signals, the army’s ‘comms corps’.
It has worked extensively with the Ministry of Defence and other government agencies, but recently has expanded into the commercial sector.
Director Matt Horan said: “To be certified required the government to carry out due diligence and rigorous checks, and there followed a demanding two-hour interview by GCHQ technical directors.
“Certification is important for our government work and also gives a great deal of reassurance to our commercial clients.
“We have a wide range of services across the cyber and digital arena and we are one of the leading companies of our type in the country.
“From huge, multi-national companies to sole traders, we offer a comprehensive service and it is a sector that is growing and one which the government has acknowledged with the creation of the NCSC.
“Not only do we look at businesses’ cyber and digital security, but their physical, personal and procedural security as well.
“Often we find that a business has been hacked and doesn’t even know about it and is actually losing money.
“Regularly we are brought in by companies that have lost five figure sums.
“Our work is about identifying risks and putting a plan in place to mitigate those risks. It is a team effort and we use highly skilled and experienced specialists.
“Clients understand that our service has the potential to save them a huge amount of time, money and professional embarrassment.”
The government is encouraging all firms to enhance their cyber security. Its own research showed that 70 per cent of all attacks were in the form of viruses, spyware and malware.
It also revealed that two-thirds of all large businesses had been attacked within the last year.
Cyber security incidents cost UK firms £34.1 billion in the past year, according to a survey by business internet service provider Beaming.
C3IA has 84 personnel on contract of which 33 are employees and 51 are associates, and it is headquartered in Ling Road.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
C3IA (a military term) was set up in 2006 by Matt Horan and Keith Parsons. It has 84 personnel on contract of which 33 are employees and 51 are associates, and it is headquartered in Ling Road, Poole, Dorset. It works in the defence and security sectors, for government departments and within industry – serving both SMEs and multi-national firms. C3IA is a leading provider of secure ICT, technical programme management and information security services and solutions. C3IA takes its corporate social responsibilities seriously, supporting serving and past members of the Armed Services. It sponsors those engaged in personal and team development through arduous sporting and other challenges.
For more information contact:
Ed Baker at Deep South Media on 01202 534487 or 07788392965
