Is your business prepared for the analogue switch off?

Analogue signals and digital signals are both forms of communication that are used to transmit and receive data. Originally, most businesses used analogue signals, but in the modern age, digital signals were developed and became faster and more efficient in carrying information, mitigating data loss during transmission and ensuring transmitted data is accurate.

Before the end of 2025, the UK will switch off analogue services for phone lines. This is because analogue equipment is expensive, difficult to maintain and inaccessible compared to digital equipment. It's most likely that your business is using digital lines already for phone communication, but many other functions such as security systems, fire alarms, CCTV and card payment systems may be using an analogue line and could potentially stop working when the analogue services are retired in 2025.

If all this sounds confusing or you want to check that your services need to be switched over to digital before the analogue switch off, get in touch with Pearce IT today. Call us on 01452 222 000 or email us at hello@pearceit.co.uk. We are currently offering a free business telecoms review, so contact us to find out more.

Were you affected by the 3CX security threat?

On Wednesday 29th March, 3CX Phone System suffered a security incident where a third party exploited a vulnerability in 3CX products.

If you have been affected we can help!

Get in touch to find out more!

01452 222 000

Since the attack, 3CX have declared that they will be open and transparent in sharing details of the attack and taking action to ensure this will not happen again.

You can read more about 3CX's statement here: https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/security-incident-updates/

In short, 3CX recommends several steps for its users to take to ensure the security of their data and devices:

1. Uninstall the 3CX Electron Desktop Application from all Windows or Mac OS systems.

2. Continue AV scans and EDR solutioning for malware in your organisation's networks.

3. Until further notice, use the PWA Web Client rather than the Desktop App.

4. Subscribe to 3CX's RSS feed where they will provide regular updates to this incident

5. Follow 3CX on social media for updates and security alerts in the future

6. Use 3CX's dedicated support forum if you have any queries or concerns relating to this incident.

In appreciation for their customers' and partners' support, 3CX are extending all customers' subscriptions by 3 months, free of charge. Details of this extension will be provided in an email to all customers.

If you are concerned about the security of your devices, get in touch with us for a review of your telecoms and security.

Do your staff members use ChatGPT?

A recent emerging technology in the IT industry is the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI). For the past few decades, competent, reliable AI has only been a figment of science fiction, but with the recent release of ChatGPT, a model launched by OpenAI in November of 2022, AI has suddenly become much more powerful and accessible to everyone.

The launch of ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionise a vast range of industries by improving productivity. One such example of a way in which ChatGPT can support a business is through customer support. Many companies including Nike and eBay have deployed AI-enabled chatbots to improve the customer experience by instantly answering frequently asked questions in easy-to-understand terms. Using AI in this way can help companies reduce costs and provide a more consistent customer experience especially in industries such as financial services and e-commerce.

However, many people are concerned about industries' increasing reliance on AI models such as ChatGPT. One such reason for this is that it may put many people out of jobs that can easily be allocated to ChatGPT and completed far more effectively and efficiently than a human ever could.

Another major point of concern in the IT industry particularly is how AI could be used in harmful ways. For example, programming them with bias to produce harmful, deceptive or misinformative content.

There are also significant concerns about potential cybersecurity threats that are posed by these technologies, as attackers could potentially exploit weaknesses in security systems using AI.

One of the biggest risks associated with ChatGPT is the exposure of sensitive information. ChatGPT is trained on vast amounts of data, including proprietary information, personal identifiable information (PII), and intellectual property. Once this information is inputted into the system, it becomes part of its knowledge bank and could potentially appear in other people’s answers.

To minimise these risks, companies must implement strong security protocols and guidelines for the use of ChatGPT at work. This includes clearly defining what types of information can and cannot be inputted into the system, ensuring that all data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, and limiting access to the technology to only those who need it.

As technologies such as ChatGPT continue to advance and improve in efficiency every day, it is important to consider the potential risks and take proactive steps such as extensive testing and guidelines to ensure that new technology is developed and used in a safe and ethical manner, to enable us to reap the benefits of AI, while staying wary of potential threats.

What do you think about the new emergence of Chat GPT and OpenAI?

If you have any concerns on this subject within your business don’t hesitate to contact us!

Call or Email us at 01452 222 000 | hello@pearceit.co.uk

Seven Reasons why office grade cloud backup is so important!

Having flexible onsite support with remote access is such a valuable tool to have in your business. This reduces downtime and gets your business working with minimal disruption if the worst does happen!

Why is cloud backup so valuable to a company?

1.      Avoids accidental deletion – This is the most common issue that arises when it comes to data loss. Human error! If you delete a user by accident or a member of staff does so without realising it, a backup could restore that user either to an on-premises Exchange account or a 365 account.

2.      Data retention policy gaps and confusion – Policies are designed to help companies comply with regulations, laws and internal policies. Even if you do have a data retention policy, having it accessible makes sure it’s protected but easily accessed by employees who may need to see it.

3.      Internal security threats – It is more common than you realise to have internal security threats within a company. Internal threats originate within the organisation itself and usually are carried out by a current or former employee, a contractor or a business associate. For example, if you have an employee that has left the company but you haven’t changed user access to accounts or changed the passwords, then this can pose a threat to the company.  Having a high-grade recovery solution mitigates the risk of critical data being lost or destroyed.

4.      External security threats – Ransomware is becoming more and more of a threat each week. Criminals are finding more ways to infiltrate systems through unsuspecting users. It can be as easy as an employee clicking on a link and the entire organisation’s data being encrypted. Then a ransom will be asked for, in order to lift the encryption. Daily online backup systems can easily restore data to where it was before the attack.

5.      Legal and compliance requirements – Even though Microsoft has its own eDiscovery, having a third-party backup solution that is purpose-built to easily search within a backup is essential. It can quickly bring back data to meet any regulatory compliance needs.

6.      Managing hybrid email deployments and migrations to Microsoft 365 – Whether you are migrating to Microsoft 365 or have a blend of on-premises Exchange and Microsoft 365 users, the Exchange data should be managed and protected in the same way, which makes the source location irrelevant.

7.      Microsoft Teams data structure – Microsoft Teams is not a self-contained application. Data generated in Teams resides in other applications too, like Exchange Online, SharePoint and OneDrive. With this added layer of complexity, making sure all levels of this data are secured for the businesses is imperative!

Summary

The ever-changing environment of technology means that, as companies, we have to be constantly aware of the threats and how they can, in the worst-case scenario, affect our data backups.

Pearce IT has many years of experience in providing businesses with IT Solutions to a diverse variety of clients across a breadth of sectors. This ranges from a single PC setup to multiple site organisations. Your IT security should be at the top of your list, to protect all YOUR data as well as to protect all of your clients’ data.

If you would like to find out how we can resolve any IT data backup issues, then please get in touch for a quote today!

Call or Email us on 01452 222 000 | hello@pearceit.co.uk

One Stop Shop for all your IT needs!

Usually, when a customer first gets in touch with us, it’s with one service in mind, something that they need at that moment in time. However, we have so much more to offer, where we can collectively support you, protect you and guide you to safer technology and IT solutions for your business.

On our social media recently, I’m sure you have seen that we have been talking about consolidating your IT and creating a plan for the coming year. Well we would love to offer you a helping hand towards creating an IT plan for your business for 2023!

Did you know about the wide array of products we offer to consolidate all of your technology needs?

Here are some of the key services we can offer you:

Online daily backup

Up to 30 copies of your data are stored securely within the UK. You’ll gain 24/7 access to work on your files through any internet-enabled device such as a smartphone, tablet or PC/laptop. Business Grade Online Backup doesn’t need to be expensive with plans from as little as £12 per month.

Cloud-Based Desktop

Solutions to access your desktop from any internet-connected device.

Cloud Drive

Onsite IT Services connect all your technology together. Whether your business is a small home office or a multi-site organisation, Pearce IT can help store your data securely, with access from all your devices.

Bitdefender Antivirus and Security

Protect your data from viruses and malware. Our clients have a zero infection rate, thanks to our Antivirus and Malware protection.

VoIP Telephone Systems

With Voice over IP (VoIP), you can have your own number which belongs to your business with telephones in any location.  Whether you want a non-geographic number or a regional number for your satellite offices, VoIP technology can help you.

Internet Access

Internet and broadband for business – solid, secure and reliable connectivity on demand. This can range from 4G dongles to fibre broadband and leased lines.

Intelligent Email Signatures

Custom designed email signatures for your business that even work with smartphones and tablets. We can also create bespoke signatures for your business too.

Microsoft Office 365 Backup and Archiving service

Protect your business communications and files with an extra level of security.

IT Consultancy

Pearce IT are proud to be a Microsoft Silver Partner, which enables us to advise and implement Microsoft Office 365 into your business.

We can offer our expertise in GDPR compliance, Disaster Recovery and Strategic IT planning.

IT Hardware

The hardware we supply is not only up to the job now but will be sufficient for its lifetime of service.  We are often asked “how much RAM do I need?”, “What’s the difference in processors?” and “how much space do I need?”. Our knowledge of systems and requirements is second to none.

So why have all your IT managed by one company?

Outsourcing is great, but if you have lots of different suppliers, managing these effectively is time-consuming, so saving time by using a single company for all your IT needs makes sense. You’ll have a single company to contact for help and support and a single invoice to pay, giving you more time to run your business. Not only that, but by having everything under one roof, you get a seamless service too.

Pearce IT Limited has built up a strong local reputation as a leading IT services provider across Gloucestershire, and we have a long list of happy customers. We’d love to be your virtual IT team through the life of your business.

Do you need to consolidate all of your IT solutions? Email or call us at 01452 222 000 to see how we can help, or visit www.pearceit.co.uk.

Technology Trends to look out for in 2023

What are the new trends in tech for 2023?

Threats are just as likely to emerge due to improperly secured networks leaving sensitive data accidentally exposed, or unwary or indiscreet employees using non-secured devices while working from home.

A shift to a culture of home and remote working that started during the Covid-19 pandemic and has persisted in many organizations, as well as the spread of the internet of things (IoT) into every area of business and society, means there has never been more opportunity for laid back security to cause headaches and expense.

Cyber security

The more devices we connect together the more potential back doors and windows exist. This is a way that attackers can make their way into secure data. With an increase of wearable devices and smart home technology, they are often not used to store sensitive data, but can be used as gateways for attackers. Having a secure cloud system is a governmental initiative that will be coming into effect, starting in 2023.

Recently, a cybersecurity priority for many organizations has been to secure the millions of devices worldwide that are being used for home and remote working since the start of the pandemic.

However, for companies, it is becoming increasingly apparent that personal devices are also being used for work that isn’t protected by their IT systems. Connecting to networks with non-secured devices can lead to phishing attacks through human error, such as tricking users into sharing passwords.

Addressing Ransomware and threats

Working remotely in large teams can mean that it is possible that the whole team won’t actually know each other. Accounts can be made to impersonate employees. It also increases the threat of ransomware. This is where software is injected into the network that can erase valuable data unless users pay out the ransom. This has caused havoc in lots of large companies losing lots of data. There is a big movement in 2023 that will increase Cyber security measures from all aspects of technology involved in businesses and avoid the worst happening and losing valuable data.

An Example of this was Acer computer design/manufacturer.

Using a Microsoft Exchange server vulnerability, Revil hackers gained access to Acer data and leaked images of personal spreadsheets and financial documents. A hefty ransom of $50 million was requested. However, Acer has never confirmed whether the ransom was paid or not.

MFA

With Cyber security increasing in 2023 we have grown to understand the term ‘2FA’ Two Factor Authentication. However, it is likely technology will be moving to ‘MFA’ Multi-factor authentication. This will be where there will be more than two levels of security to access data and personal accounts, etc.

GDPR & AI regulations

The UK is changing the GDPR regulations to its own British data protection system. This reshaping will be more business and consumer-friendly. This has come into effect as a result of Brexit and post- covid working changes.

The privacy field has been expanded in terms of what clients are interested in and where the trends are coming from.

Everyone is digitalising post-covid. Rapid digitalisation means the need for updates for the GDPR standards.

Transparency and consent are the main areas of update in GDPR. Transparency - more detailed and informative privacy notices are required; the purpose of, and legal basis for, processing must be explained. Consent - must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous; consent must be provided by clear affirmative action.

How Can You Guarantee Better Internet for Your Business?

Securing faster broadband

These days, fast internet services are massively important for businesses, with nearly every business having some externally facing presence, be that a website or a customer portal. More everyday than this though, is the constant traffic that connects your business operations to the outside world. Email, video messaging, conferencing, chat and VOIP telecoms all require a constant and steady internet connection to work effectively. More recently, we’ve seen the movement of entire suites of software to the cloud, removing the need for many businesses to spend much-needed capital on large equipment purchases. You can now use extremely powerful design-oriented or code-crunching computer hardware remotely, with the actual hardware located in a data centre anywhere in the world and allowing interface by the user over a browser or an app session. 

This is a revelation for many industries, and can allow businesses to grow well beyond the limitations of their physical assets, but with all these services and software systems needing bandwidth, how do you leverage the awesome power of modern cloud systems if your internet connection is terrible? 

Finding a solution to bad business broadband  

You can certainly look for the best deal in business broadband among the ISP’s out there that offer these packages, but normally the speeds you receive will be around the same as a standard consumer broadband deal. As many businesses sit on industrial or commercial parks or estates that are ageing, this isn’t ideal, as during business hours everyone in the locale is online using outdated copper-bearer lines from their local cabinet. 

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a supplier that could install super-fast fibre to your premises, assuring you of fast speed and high bandwidth, all day every day? Well, you can, with a Fibre line from City Fibre. 

What’s the difference between that and my standard fibre broadband deal? 

CityFibre owns, operates and maintains Fibre to the Premises infrastructure in over 60 cities in the UK. As of 21 March 2022, 1.5 million premises have been connected to the CityFibre network. Getting Fibre to the Premises (or FttP) from CityFibre ensure much higher speeds and availability resulting in a solid and fast connection to the outside world, with no risk of contention from other broadband users on copper infrastructure in the surrounding area. 

If your business broadband is faster and more stable than standard broadband connections, this allows your businesses to use cloud resources to their full potential. Whereas it’s fair to say that installation of a fibre line to your premises does come at a cost, higher speeds and functionality for network-dependant services in your business will provide a great return on investment over time. 

How do I get the best internet connection for my business? 

Currently, depending on location and availability, Pearce IT can offer your business the ability to realise its full potential through a fast Fibre to the Premises connection through City Fibre at up to 1000 Megabits per second, for both Upload and Download.  

This will allow you to pass all your essential business services through a lightning-fast connection, with astoundingly high uptime and less contention. You may even be able to leverage this better connection to give your business a way to access resources that were unavailable before. 

City Fibre lines from Pearce IT can be particularly useful if your business has heavy cloud-resource users, or has large teams working collaboratively from remote sites, or on documents stored in cloud locations. As most businesses now use cloud resources of one type or another, a faster and more stable connection gives you the edge and ensures that your workflow doesn’t suffer during peak usage times. 

If you’re looking to get better speed and quality for your business broadband, then get in touch with us today via the site contact form, or by phone on 01452 222000, and ask us about our City Fibre packages. 

Is Your Business Ready For The Analogue Switch-Off?

The Big Digital Switchover You Might Not Know About…

All over the UK there’s a focus from ISP’s and customers alike to get faster and faster network speeds and more bang for their buck on their fibre and standard broadband packages. With most UK households now having an array of internet connected devices, and the vast majority having more than one TV (we’ll omit the term ‘smart’ here, as it’s actually become very difficult to buy a TV that doesn’t run an operating system), as well as other entertainment devices, like games consoles, PC’s, and systems like Alexa or Google Dot, demand for network services is at an all-time high, and only looking to increase.

More devices being used at the same time mean those devices will be using more bandwidth, hence more total demand on the line, and the need for ‘faster’ or higher bandwidth broadband supply.

Supply, Demand, and Broadband

With demand ever-increasing, you’re eventually going to find an obstacle to supply, and in this case it’s the good ol’ laws of physics, as there is a limit to what can be done on the, now rather antiquated, copper bearer lines that have been the backbone of the UK’s telecommunications network for decades.

This means that two things need to happen. Firstly, it means investment in new infrastructure, and that comes in the form of full-fibre networking, to get the fastest speeds possible, as efficiently as possible. This rollout has been ongoing in the UK (albeit slowly) for many years and looks set to take a few more years yet before the project can be signed off by the UK government. Even then, there will be areas of the UK (streets, roads, and lanes too remote to access, or with too much groundwork to do to fully replace copper with fibre) where a physical change to fibre-optic lines will be impractical or too expensive to be covered under the plan, which means that, secondly, any older copper infrastructure that stays will need to be cleared of any unnecessary baggage to maximise its effectiveness.

This means that the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) analogue signals, which have been directed along the copper infrastructure since the UK telephone exchange was invented, will stop.

Analogue vs Digital

Working with analogue signals is markedly different from digital signals. Transmitting and receiving data via analogue methods uses an electromagnetic signal (also known as a waveform) that varies in its wavelength (how far apart the peaks of the signal wave are) and amplitude (how high the peaks of the signal wave are). This is generally more variable, and more accurate than digital signals, which are just made up of a series of ones and zeroes, or on-off states. Digital signals can carry information faster though, and that’s more important in the modern age. It’s also significantly easier to encode and decode digital signals accurately, and ensure lossless delivery of information.

Switching analogue services to digital is nothing new in the UK; television went the same way, with all analogue signals being switched off on 24th October 2012, marking a switch to fully digital terrestrial television services. And so it will be with phone-lines, with a switch to digital lines being in place before the end of 2025.

Retiring the analogue service for phone lines means that those maintaining the analogue equipment don’t have to devote time and money to ensure ageing infrastructure carries both analogue and digital signals. Analogue equipment is rare, expensive, and hard to maintain when compared to digital equivalents, and all the innovation in electronic communications is taking place in the digital format.

What does an analogue shutoff mean for businesses owners?

It’s highly likely that you’re using digital lines for much of your business function, but in many cases, business owners are running more than just phones over their phone lines; Intruder and Fire Alarms, Point of Sale and Card Payment systems, CCTV, Access Control systems, secondary data lines for emergency internet access – the list of possible services being carried by your analogue line could be quite long. Obviously, if these services are not switched over to a digital subscriber line before the analogue shutdown, they will cease to work when that analogue line is switched off.

The good news is that all these services function much more effectively over a digital line, and if you are still using an analogue phone instead of digital VoIP services, you’re missing out on all of the great things that digital phones bring to the table.

In short, moving from analogue to digital will allow our national network infrastructure to work smarter, harder, and faster. If you need to check if you’re ready for the switchover, or you’d like to see about updating your network, telecoms equipment, or you’re interested in making your business more resilient or more effective, then get in touch with Pearce IT today. Call us on 01453 222 000 or use the contact form on this site.

IT Support is Great. Unlimited IT Support is Better.

The ideal IT solution

In an ideal world, IT problems wouldn’t exist. Or at least they’d be easily solvable by any Tom, Dick, or Harry experiencing them. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world and technology doesn’t always behave the way it’s built to every time. 

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if every member of your staff knew how to resolve every small IT issue they came across, like your office printer suddenly disappearing from the network, so that your IT Support contract was utilised only for major, business-breaking issues? 

IT Support can be expensive

If not used appropriately, limited IT Support contracts can become expensive for businesses. 

It is quite easy for contracted IT support labour to get eaten up by cosmetic IT problems such as Bill in Sales not knowing how to print his latest sales collateral in duplicate, which lead to your business incurring expensive hourly charges for the more complex IT issues.  

This hurts business owners when the types of problems they get charged for are the very reason why they took out the IT Support contract in the first place. 

A mountain of unresolved IT problems

Situations like the above can sometimes result in budget-focused management putting rigorous checks in place on the use of IT support, creating a Catch-22 situation.  

Limited contracted IT support ends up being policed, and minor IT issues go unreported to avoid eating up contracted hours.  

The major drawback with this is that minor, and often easily resolvable, IT issues can build up over time and snowball into company-breaking problems that are much more difficult (and costly) to solve. 

So what’s the cheaper IT solution to the expensive IT solution? Aside from the obvious investment in better IT equipment and improved network reliability, we’d suggest an Unlimited IT Support contract with Pearce IT. 

Unlimited Support? Sounds expensive…

Look at it this way – what would really be the more expensive of these hypothetical scenarios? 

Situation A - You have a limited IT Support contract with your Managed Service Provider that allows you X number of ‘free’ hours of remote IT support for a fixed price each month. Any support provided over and above the free IT support labour is chargeable at an hourly rate. 

You have a small team so figure that you’re unlikely to use all your contracted hours each month so it shouldn’t be an issue. 

Then you find that your team face regular IT issues such as emails not sending, connectivity issues, printers requiring regular troubleshooting, staff activating spam and phishing emails, people forgetting passwords, ‘slow’ workstations, document recovery due to unintentional file deletion, and the list goes on...  

Soon, your ‘free’ hours are gone, and you’re charged £80+ per hour for simple IT fixes which continue to occur, your IT support costs continue to rise and, before you know it, you’re way outside your budget. 

Situation B - You take out an Unlimited IT Support contract that takes care of all your remote operational IT support needs for all your business’ IT equipment at a fixed cost each month.  

No matter how many hours of remote IT support your business requires, your Unlimited Support package has it covered, and you receive no extra charges for remote support labour. 

Not only do you feel confident knowing what your IT costs are each month and can budget accordingly, but your team has confidence that if they have a problem with hardware or software, they have a dedicated team available. 

This minimises your downtime, prevents simple issues from snowballing, and ensures that your IT estate continues to perform as it should, but you also know that should any more serious problems occur you will not be faced with unexpected IT support labour costs, as this will all be covered by your Unlimited IT Support package. The only extra costs you may need to pay would be for equipment replacement and parts, or on-site IT labour, etc. 

Ok. So, these scenarios may well be fictional, and Situation A may seem slightly dramatized, but it is not all that far from the truth in our experience. That list of IT issues we mentioned? All common IT problems. 

Unlimited IT Support from Pearce IT

This is precisely why we launched our Unlimited IT Support package. We wanted our customers to know that whatever IT problem they faced, they didn’t have to worry about costly support charges. 

Let us take care of the seemingly innocuous and mundane IT issues, so that when you do face a major IT issue, you have peace of mind that the remote IT support labour to fix it is still covered under contract. On-site labour and maintenance are still charged for of course, but if your network and equipment is covered through us, we can fix most common service issues remotely. 

You can get Unlimited IT Support with Pearce IT from as a little as £10 per user per month. Just get in touch to discuss your needs. 

Level Up your Security, and Streamline your Business.

Do I need Cyber Essentials?

It’s becoming increasingly obvious to business owners that cyber security is probably the most important thing to address if you want less risk to your business resilience, as most of the threats to business continuity are online these days – malware, ransomware, hacking, data-theft, spyware, and good old incompetence or just disgruntled employees can badly damage or destroy prospects, contracts, or even whole businesses.

As we are right now in the UK, many businesses have vastly improved their online and in-house cyber security, and awareness of threats and countering tactics are routinely taught and highlighted in organisations across the nation, but even with business owners and IT departments making inroads into safer business practices, there exists a very definite requirement for teams and organisations working in certain sectors and industries to provide services that meet a certain standard.

Why do I need contractors with robust cyber security?

If you are an aerospace manufacturer for example, it’s no good operating stringent security protocols for your in-house data handling whilst simultaneously retaining a business on contract to consult on design or finance when that company has little to no cyber security awareness or process. That is how leaks happen, which can have potentially disastrous results in terms of product launches, company data breaches and corporate espionage.

But how do you check that your providers or contractors have the security chops that you need to ensure safe and secure services? It goes without saying that the easiest way to achieve this is to have an accredited standard for cyber security that you know will guarantee a minimal level of security across all your suppliers, without you having to audit them individually or install compliance officers into their company infrastructure. Luckily, this exists, and it’s referred to as Cyber Essentials.

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed scheme, representing a system of best practices that ensure a reasonable level of safe and secure cyber operations in every type of network. Ostensibly, the Cyber Essentials certification declares that a certified organisation has gone through a set of technical checks and audits to make sure that there are no loose ends or open back doors on the organisation’s networks and endpoints. These are, by and large, common sense practices and contain such processes as checking to see which ports are open on a network firewall or router, and closing them if not used, or ensuring that all software in use inside an organisation is digitally signed and regularly updated. Networking equipment must be secure, with firmware under active support and with no factory-issue passwords. Endpoints, from phones to servers, must carry antivirus software and run no software that is not on an approved list specified by the organisations IT or security administrator.

Physical access to computer equipment may also need to be controlled, and with cloud services, admin level operations, and domain-based local logins, accounts must be locked with complex passwords, and multi-factor authentication (2FA or MFA) must be active across all accounts in the organisation.

Do I really need Cyber Essentials certification?

It depends, but our view on it is yes, you do need Cyber Essentials certification. For your business to operate in certain markets, it’s pretty much a requirement for gaining contracts. If you’re looking to supply for clients in the public sector, such as the Ministry of Defence, the Home Office, or the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, then you will need to be Cyber Essentials certified at a minimum. Many other businesses that supply into these public sector institutions will require you, as a subcontractor, to have Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification. This is especially important if you are being considered as a provider in a SIAM or other distributed service model where you will be providing part of a range of services among multiple suppliers. You’ll be expected to provide assurances that your services or contributions will be secure to a specified minimum standard, and the easiest way of accomplishing this is to make everyone compliant with Cyber Essentials.

Cyber Essentials seems like a lot of effort…

It’s really not that bad. Yes, you may have to redesign areas of your network, and yes, you may have to purchase new equipment or ensure that any existing equipment is up to date and remains supported. You might even have to update internal policies and documents surrounding IT and device usage at work, as well as arrange things like cyber security awareness training. You could even be in the position where you have to move everything in your organisation to cloud services, ensuring they are removed from out-of-date infrastructure on your premises. Here’s the thing with all this though – you should be doing this anyway.

Cyber Essentials is common sense for business

We really mean it. You should be doing it. Regardless of whether you are contractually obliged to undergo an audit and certification, taking your business through the Cyber Essentials process is a bit like tidying up your workshop or garage. Everything is put in its proper place and recorded – any horded electronics, and anything extraneous or buggy software-wise is gone – it’s like a life-laundry for your business, and your staff and clients will appreciate it. At the end of the day you will have achieved three things; firstly, your staff will have a greater awareness of your, and their responsibility around making sure that business is conducted efficiently and securely; secondly, your network will be hardened, more secure, more streamlined, with authentication, regular updates, enforced backups, security software, firewalls, and telephony systems all functioning as they should, with nothing made difficult to find, overloaded, or cluttered; and thirdly, your clients will know at a glance that you take the security of your data and business (and therefore theirs) very seriously. It may even open avenues of business that weren’t available to you beforehand.

Get in touch for Cyber Essentials

Pearce IT, through our certification partner Assured Technical, is offering full Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus auditing and certification services, and our team will work closely with you to make sure that everything is assessed, identified, and resolved so that you can be sure of gaining that all-important certificate. We offer all the solutions that you need to move forward with a secure, safe, and prepared business infrastructure. Get in touch with us today on 01452 222000 or contact us via the form on this site to arrange a visit and a chat about your business IT strategy.