Protecting You Better: Sood Secures Cyber Essentials Plus

Earlier this year, Sood took its first big step towards better cyber security by achieving the Cyber Essentials certification. After months of hard work, we nailed it, and could breathe a little easier knowing both we and our clients had stronger protection against cyber threats.

But we didn’t stop there! Over the past few weeks, we pushed ourselves even further and earned the Cyber Essentials Plus certification – a higher level that shows we’re always ready to go the extra mile to provide the best possible security and peace of mind for our clients.

What is Cyber Essentials Plus?

If you’re not familiar with Cyber Essentials, you might be in the dark as to what this ‘extra security’ actually means. So, whether you’re one of our loyal long-running clients or are just considering working with us, let’s break it down.

First, there’s the base level: Cyber Essentials. This government-backed scheme is designed to protect businesses (and their clients) from the most common cyber threats. We’re talking petty thieves here – you don’t have to be a tech mastermind to break into an unlocked house, especially if you’re known for lacking security. Cyber Essentials simply provides the lock. It’s basic, but necessary to keep you and your data safe.

Then, there’s Cyber Essentials Plus – the Level 2 upgrade. Although based around the same technical stuff, this expansion of Cyber Essentials includes a full technical audit of IT systems. It gives clients that extra bit of confidence that an organisation is providing the most thorough and long-term cyber security solutions.

Our Journey to Cyber Essentials Plus

2024 began with us proudly achieving our Cyber Essentials certification with the help of Bullet Proof and IASME. It involved everyone in our team, from web design to SEO, hitting the books and swotting up on the five core controls Cyber Essentials is based around – user access control, secure configuration, security update management, firewalls and routers, and malware protection. Then, our newfound cyber experts took an assessment (which they passed with flying colours) and we officially became a Cyber Essentials-certified business!

We could have stopped there, but that’s not how we do things at Sood. This year, we stepped up our game to Cyber Essentials Plus. It was an easy choice. After all the work we put into Level 1, going the extra mile for Level 2 just made sense. Plus, if it means better security and more peace of mind for our clients, it was a no-brainer?

For the more technically minded among you, here’s a quick rundown of what the Plus certification involved:

  • An audit of select computers in our office to make sure they’re configured correctly.
  • A vulnerability scan to verify patching and basic security settings.
  • An external port scan of our public IP addresses to spot any misconfigurations or vulnerabilities.
  • Testing of the default email and internet browser to protect against malicious files.

After completing these detailed assessments, we passed in September 2024! With Cyber Essentials Plus, Sood’s security has never been stronger.

Why It Matters

Okay, enough mumbo jumbo. Why should you care? Locked door analogies aside, let’s explain.

At its core, our Cyber Essentials certification shows that we take your security seriously. We’re not leaving your data exposed to potential threats – whether it’s being read, manipulated, or stolen. Not every business goes the extra mile to get certified, so achieving this proves we’re committed to protecting you. And trust us, it’s not an easy assessment – passing means we know our stuff!

Additionally, we didn’t rest on our laurels. You might see a Level 1 certification and think, “Fair enough, sounds good” – but complacency just isn’t our style. We pushed for Cyber Essentials Plus, going the extra mile to guarantee your data is as safe as possible. When you’re working with a marketing agency, you deserve absolute peace of mind that they take your data as seriously as their own, and with our Cyber Essentials Plus certification, there’s no doubt about where our priorities lie.

It’s more than just a badge for our website, it’s proof that when you partner with us, you’re in the safest hands possible.

With our Cyber Essentials Plus certification in the bag, Sood can confidently position ourselves as a business that’s serious about security.

Feel like partnering with a digital marketing agency that goes above and beyond for you? Get in touch for an open consultation.

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