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The term 'cyber security' can sometimes obscure rather than clarify its fundamental purpose. At its core, cyber security is about safeguarding your organisation’s computer systems from an array of threats—while also equipping you to respond effectively when those threats materialise.
It spans a comprehensive suite of services, including Network Security, Endpoint Security (protecting individual devices such as computers), and Server Security, all designed to fortify your digital infrastructure.
In today’s landscape, scarcely a week goes by without news of a major organisation grappling with a data breach, where cyber criminals have compromised millions of personal records. For many businesses, such an incident could prove catastrophic, potentially spelling the end of operations—unless they possess the scale and resources to absorb hefty fines and maintain trading. Effective cyber security is not merely a technical necessity but a critical business imperative, ensuring resilience, protecting your reputation, and maintaining trust with your stakeholders.
Not necessarily. We offer an initial consultation at no cost, providing you with a clear starting point to assess your needs. Beyond that, safeguarding your computer systems—and by extension, ensuring the long-term viability of your business—does not have to be a prohibitively expensive undertaking. However, it is worth noting that cyber security represents an ongoing investment rather than a one-off expense. The costs can vary significantly depending on the size and complexity of your organisation, allowing for a tailored approach that balances protection with practicality.
The landscape of cyber security is populated with a wealth of regulatory frameworks and standards, some of which are mandatory, others voluntary, each designed to bolster organisational resilience. Understanding which of these apply to your business—and how to implement them effectively—is no small task. At GEN, we bring expertise across this diverse array of frameworks, from ISO 27001 and GDPR to Cyber Essentials and beyond. We partner with you to identify the standards most relevant to your operations, ensuring they are applied efficiently and aligned with your specific needs, so you can achieve compliance and enhance security without unnecessary complexity.
International Standard for Information Technology—ISO 27001 is a widely accepted international standard for the protection of sensitive information in the digital age.
A comprehensive cybersecurity framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to help organizations manage and reduce cybersecurity risk.
Ensuring adherence to the General Data Protection Regulation, which sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information in the European Union.
A set of actions for cyber defence that provide specific ways to stop today's most pervasive and dangerous attacks, developed by the Center for Internet Security.
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information in the United States.
Cyber Resilience Act, a proposed EU regulation aimed at strengthening cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements throughout their lifecycle.
Service Organization Control 2, a voluntary compliance standard for service organizations that specifies how organizations should manage customer data.
Cloud Security Alliance Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk program, a comprehensive and flexible framework for cloud service providers.
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, which contributes to EU cyber policy, enhances the trustworthiness of ICT products, services and processes.
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, providing guidance and services to help protect and defend Canada's cyber interests.
A UK government-backed scheme that helps organizations protect against common cyber attacks and demonstrates commitment to cybersecurity.
It may be an uncomfortable truth, but your employees often represent the greatest vulnerability to your organisation’s computer systems. Among the myriad risks, email stands out as both the most significant and the most frequent culprit behind data breaches. While it’s widely understood that unexpected attachments should not be opened, human error persists—your staff may still fall prey to such traps despite best intentions. Raising awareness and embedding a culture of vigilance are critical steps in mitigating this risk, ensuring your people become a line of defence rather than an unwitting point of entry for cyber threats.
Many organisations turn to automated phishing tests in an effort to bolster awareness, yet these exercises often deliver little tangible value.
The reasons are manifold: firstly, their broad distribution means everyone receives the same generic simulation, diluting its impact; secondly, they are frequently poorly crafted, lacking sophistication or authenticity; thirdly, they often bear little relevance to the specific risks faced by your organisation, rendering them impractical; fourthly, they can cause unnecessary disruption to daily operations; and finally, rather than educating staff, they tend to frustrate them, fostering resentment instead of resilience.
In contrast, individually targeted phishing simulations—mirroring the sophisticated techniques employed by professional scammers, and integrating elements of compromise, phishing, and social engineering—offer far superior value for money. This tailored approach not only yields significantly better outcomes but also equips your team to recognise and counter real-world threats effectively.
If you’re reading this because you suspect your systems may already have been compromised, rest assured that our team is equipped to step in swiftly and decisively.
Time is of the essence in such scenarios, and our investigative process is designed to minimise disruption while maximising clarity. We employ advanced forensic techniques to trace the origins of the compromise, whether it stems from phishing, malware, or more sophisticated social engineering tactics. Beyond identifying the breach, we’ll work with you to assess its impact—be it data loss, financial implications, or reputational damage—and provide a detailed report to support any necessary regulatory disclosures or insurance claims. Our goal is not just to resolve the current crisis but to equip your organisation with the knowledge and tools to prevent recurrence, transforming a moment of vulnerability into an opportunity for resilience.
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) refer to publicly documented vulnerabilities in software that have been identified as potential risks, each assigned a unique identifier for tracking and reference. These weaknesses, if left unaddressed, represent a significant threat to your organisation’s security. Indeed, the vast majority of data breaches not attributable to human error stem from unpatched vulnerabilities in software—gaps that cyber criminals exploit with alarming regularity. Effective patch management is therefore a cornerstone of a robust cyber security strategy, ensuring that known weaknesses are systematically resolved before they can be weaponised against your systems.
Our approach to patch management involves maintaining an up-to-date inventory of relevant CVEs, which we make available for your review, tailored to the software and systems your organisation relies upon. We proactively monitor these vulnerabilities, prioritising patches based on their severity and potential impact, and implement them with minimal disruption to your operations. This ongoing process not only mitigates the risk of exploitation but also demonstrates a commitment to due diligence—a critical factor in regulatory compliance and maintaining stakeholder trust. By entrusting us with your patch management, you can transform a potential liability into a proactive strength, safeguarding your business against the evolving threat landscape.
A list of notable data-breaches is available at DB, so you can see the scale of the risk, and potential damage to your reputation and business.
At GEN, we pride ourselves on providing premier cyber security solutions, meticulously tailored to meet the unique needs of small businesses and SMEs. Leveraging our deep expertise and state-of-the-art technologies, we ensure your digital assets are robustly protected, giving you the peace of mind to focus on what truly drives your success—your core business goals. In an era of ever-evolving cyber threats, our commitment is to keep you one step ahead, safeguarding your operations with precision and care. Reach out today to discover how we can fortify your organisation against the challenges of tomorrow.
