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Episode Ltd

ISO Consultants

Information Security

With the proliferation of data, and subsequent use and abuse of that data, it is vitally important that you manage the security of information. The implementation of the General Data Protection Regulations across the UK and Europe shows just how seriously the subject is taken.

Related Standards

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ISO 27001

SO 27001 is a definitive global model for best practice in managing information safely and securely.
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BS 10012

Data protection — Specification for a personal information management system geared towards GDPR.
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Cyber Essentials +

Assurance framework and a simple set of security controls to protect information from threats coming from the internet.
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There are reports every day of major breaches of confidentiality, with global companies such as Facebook being maliciously attacked, and it does not stop there.

Everybody holds valuable information. A recent article by McAfee, “The Hidden Data Economy”, suggested that a payment card number with CCV (the 3 digit pin on its reverse) Sells for $20 to $25 in the UK. Online payment service details are even more valuable; depending on the account balance, the details sell for $200 to $300 each.

What should you do about this? Well, it depends on a number of factors, such as whether you deal with the general public (known as “business to consumer”) or just with businesses (“business to business”), what information you hold, the volume of information, and so on. And just who should you work with to help protect information? There are an almost infinite group of people that purports to be information security/cyber-crime experts, so just how do you go about choosing the right way forward?

One of the best things you can do is build a system to manage your information security, and have it independently validated. In this way you are making a public declaration that you take the subject seriously, and, heaven forbid, the Information Commissioner’s Office [ICO] has reason to look into your business, the first thing thy will ask is “what have you done to try to prevent breaches?”. They themselves have said they will look more favourably on an organisation that has taken positive steps such as ISO 27001 or BS 10012 certification.

There are three standards we recommend to people, depending on their situation, listed below. None are easy, but they do range in their complexity. Do read the individual standard pages for more information.

Episode does not claim to be information security experts. What we are expert at is building robust management systems. Whenever we build a system the first thing we do is bring in our information-security/cyber-security partner to conduct a technical review (using a variety of tools such as penetration testing, network “sniffers”, etc). Where between us and our client we believe we need specialist help, they can then address any issues found.

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