With data now more valuable than gold it is important for firms who handle sensitive data to do so in the safest way possible. By maintaining this accreditation Hodgkinsons continue to reassure their customers that they have put the correct measures in place to avoid common cyber threats or hacking.
In order to qualify as a Cyber Essentials accredited firm, Hodgkinsons were required to provide evidence of the measures they take and the safeguarding processes they have in place which ensure that Client data is protected. During the assessment process Hodgkinsons had to provide proof of their security systems for emails, software, website hosting and cloud shared services. A remote vulnerability scan is also carried out to assess the strength of Hodgkinsons’ security system. As part of the assessment Hodgkinsons were required to demonstrate policies and systems they have in place to ensure that security is consistently checked, maintained and improved.
Cyber Essentials identifies that there are five key security controls which businesses should have in place, these are as follows:
- Secure Configuration - Confirm that computers and network devices are properly configured in order to reduce the level of inherent vulnerabilities.
- Secure your internet connection - Confirm that only safe and essential network services can be accessed from the Internet.
- Access control - Confirm that user accounts are assigned to authorised individuals only.
- Patch management - Confirm that devices and software are not vulnerable to known security issues for which fixes are available.
- Malware protection - Restrict the execution of known malware and untrusted software.
When you instruct Hodgkinsons for your legal matters whether it is Wills & Probate or Dispute Resolution you can rest assured that your data will be securely processed and stored on an up to date device with software in place to protect against viruses and other malware. By achieving this accreditation, it provides a certification process in which Hodgkinsons can demonstrate to current and potential clients that they have implemented essential cyber security measures. Having cyber security measures in place allows Hodgkinsons to reassure their Clients that they are consistently working to secure their IT against cyber-attacks. This accreditation also allows the firm’s cyber security level to be transparent, giving both potential and current Clients reassurance that Hodgkinsons takes the safety of their Client’s data very seriously. In conjunction with this certification, Hodgkinsons' staff are on the front line of defence, which is why they undertake regular cyber security training. This helps strengthen the security defences, keeping the business and its client's data safe.
If you have a legal query which you would like to discuss, contact us on 01754 897150 or fill out an online form and we will contact you.