Keep IT Safe!

In these challenging economic times, many organisations are contracting with, or considering contracting with, other organisations in gaining public sector contracts.

However, gaining a place on tender lists and succeeding through the many procurement requirement hoops now has a further high profile hurdle: INFORMATION SECURITY. The loss of some very high profile data (the child benefit debacle, laptops left on trains, disks and CD’s going astray and the recent news of T Mobile account details being sold on) has raised eyebrows and brought the subject to the top of the public sector agenda.
 

Any contract award will obviously be based on the core service provided, but Ministers and Public Sector mandarins are ensuring that not only is their own house in order but that their key suppliers also have their data security systems managed robustly and to the same exacting standards.
 

Standards such as ISO27000, one of a number that Statius has years of experience of supporting companies gain and maintain, have never been so pertinent. The requirement for the strict management of information security is not just for larger “prime” contractors, but also the numerous smaller organisations operating in their supply chains.
 

Obviously, with many public sector services being outsourced, this means that the pre-qualifying and bidding processes are beginning to turn the spotlight on information security.  It also means that any “prime” contractor has information security responsibility for the whole of the supply chain associated with their contract.

One contract round recently completed nearly fell at the last hurdle because these issues had not been adequately and rigorously addressed.  The result was a last minute scramble to build the assurance case before the contract could be properly awarded.

Statius can provide peace of mind through our range of information security services; from a basic health check to a full audit against the IT security standard ISO 27001 or even assistance with implementing an information security culture.  

We are also planning a seminar on information security in the public sector and ISO 27001 early in the New Year.  If you would like to assure your place or discuss any of these issues please call Mark Woods on 07976 426 286 or email him at mwoods@statius.uk.com