Online security certification scheme launched in UK
A new police-backed certification scheme has been launched in the UK with the intention of encouraging businesses to improve their online security practices - and to recognise those who have already safeguarded their cyber activity - after a pilot of the programme was announced today.
The UK's first scheme of its kind was launched by the London Digital Security Centre (LDSC) in partnership with Secured by Design and the police's national crime prevention initiative, with support provided by the Mayor's Office for Police and Crime (Mopac) and the Metropolitan and City of London Police.
The certification is made up of two distinct awards that will assess two aspects of an organisation's cyber security practices.
The first, called "Secured by Design - Police Preferred Specification", will determine how resilient a firm's cyber security suppliers are and ensure that their supply chains have similarly robust practices in place. Seven suppliers have already been named as early adopters of the designation: BlockPhish, CyberSmart, the IASME Consortium, SecurityScorecard, Titania, Xcina, and Yoti.
The second award, named "Digitally Aware - Secured by Design", takes the form of an educational programme that will help existing SBD members improve their online security protections. It will encompass a risk assessment tool alongside the award scheme, and will see the LDSC educate its members on taking up basic measures and promoting security within their organisations.
Both schemes will revolve around the government's Cyber Essentials programme, whereby organisations are helped to boost cyber security practices, particularly against common threats, alongside fellow industry members.
The LDCS's chief commercial officer Chris Diogenous said that even though almost half of the UK's small businesses have been a victim of cyber crime in the past year, the "overwhelming majority" of attacks could be averted using simple techniques.
“For the first time, UK businesses can demonstrate that they have taken the necessary measures to protect the data they hold and reduce their overall vulnerability to cyber crime,” he added.
