Emplas has retained the Cyber Essentials Accreditation for the third year in a row.
A company statement said ransomware attacks remain a significant threat, as numerous window and door companies have experienced firsthand. A single breach in IT security can lead to catastrophic consequences, it noted, with data and software being encrypted by criminals who demand release fees often reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The government-backed National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) scheme, Cyber Essentials, is designed to help businesses protect themselves against cyber-attacks, including ransomware and viruses.
Emplas first achieved Cyber Essentials accreditation in December 2021 after an intensive eight-month investment program that included a major upgrade of its network, servers, power supplies and virus software, the statement added.
For the third consecutive year, Emplas has completed a reassessment of its IT infrastructure and processes to retain this important accreditation.
Quang Dinh, head of IT at Emplas, said: “We were targeted by ransomware in March 2021 due to an employee simply plugging an Android phone into their laptop to charge it.
“Although we managed to quickly shut down the attack and recover, it prompted a comprehensive review and upgrade of our security systems, which ultimately led to securing the Cyber Essentials Accreditation.
“Maintaining this accreditation is crucial for our business. Our service offerings, including EVA, barcode tracking, real-time delivery updates, and allocated delivery slots, rely heavily on IT. Ensuring the security of these systems is essential to guarantee business continuity.”
According to the latest government Cyber Security Breaches Survey, many UK businesses have identified at least one cyber-attack on their operations in the past 12 months. Figures from NCSC Cyber Essentials show that accredited companies reduce their risk of cyber-attack by 98.5%.
Quang added: “It’s about stability and security of supply for our customers. We know that several fabricators and IGU fabricators were targeted in the last year, and we expect to continue being targeted.
“There is always a risk for any business, but we have significantly lowered that risk through our investments and the training provided to our staff.”
