Peter Bowers, Chief Operating Officer, NormCyber
November marks the return of the UK IT Industry Awards.
The UK IT Industry Awards are the largest and most well-known event in the technology industry calendar. Owned and operated by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and Computing, the awards enjoy a level of professionalism and industry knowledge not seen at other shows.
This year's winners will be announced at a live awards ceremony on Wednesday 8th November in London.
NormCyber, one of the finalists, is in the running for the Security Innovation of the Year.
We talked to Peter Bowers, Chief Operating Officer at NormCyber, to find out what makes his company different from other technology companies and what are they working on this year.
NormCyber is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) and data protection specialist. In his role, Peter Bowers manages the company's operational and financial functions as well as driving customer innovation and success. Pete plays a vital role in the continuous development of cybersecurity and data protection services, to provide transparency and tangible value to NormCyber's expanding client base. With over 25 years of technology experience, he brings valuable insight to the organisation.
Computing: Please provide some background on your company for our readers. What makes you different from other companies?
Peter Bowers: NormCyber - or "norm." for short - is a risk management specialist. Our managed service, smartbloc. combines Cyber Security-as-a-Service (CSaaS) and Data Protection-as-a-Service (DPaaS), giving organisations comprehensive oversight and management over all cyber risk, without the burden of in-house management. This is backed by our UK-based Security Operations Centre (SOC) and team of ethical hackers.
Our services fill a crucial gap in the market. As cybercriminals already recognise, most organisations struggle to attain the resources and expert personnel required to fortify their infrastructures. We ease the security management workload on in-house teams offering cost-effective, modular managed services, saving up to 70% compared to in-house functions.
Our primary aim is to provide decision-makers with confidence and straightforward recommendations for enhancing their cyber resilience. We achieve this via our innovative Cyber Resilience Score, the industry's first ever measure of cyber health. Similar to the black boxes in cars, it assesses an organisation's performance. It then delivers a risk exposure score, along with actionable advice and clear reports to the C-suite. As cyber insurers are increasingly seeking proof of cyber resilience from businesses, this score can be the pivotal factor in obtaining cost-effective coverage.
What one company achievement in the last 12 months are you most proud of?
In the past 12 months, NormCyber has earned a multitude of certifications, reinforcing the credibility and strength of our offerings.
In February 2023, our SOC achieved a pioneering Fortinet certification, which was the first of its kind in Europe. We also achieved specialisations in Operational Technology and Cloud Security, demonstrating our technical expertise.
Just six months later, NormCyber achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) to receive certification under the latest 2022 iteration of the ISO 27001 compliance standard. At the same time, NormCyber also became an Official Partner of British Assessment Bureau (BAB), uniquely positioning us to guide our customers through the accreditation process.
Recognising the diverse needs and budgets of businesses seeking certification, we introduced a new, flexible ISO 27001 consultancy service in September 2023, covering a comprehensive spectrum of support, from adhoc services to hands-on compliance management.
In October 2023, we were awarded with CREST's NCSC Cyber Incident Response Level 2 certification as well as CREST's Cyber Security Incident Response accreditation, further bolstering the plethora of certifications to our name.
What are you working on this year?
We are constantly looking to evolve our smartbloc. managed service and provide the most straightforward and innovative solutions to the most complex security challenges.
Recently, we've introduced new vulnerability and patch management reporting capabilities to smartbloc. to help businesses prioritise their most significant operational risks.
Our commitment to quality is evident through our partnership with top-tier technology vendors, ensuring robust controls for our customer. This rigorous vetting process ensures that our customers will continue to benefit from ongoing research and development.
In 2024, we're embarking on an ambitious expansion plan, intending to double our workforce. To accommodate this growth, we've already doubled the physical space of our Fareham headquarters. We're actively seeking exceptional talent to join various teams, including Security Operations Centre, engineering, penetration testing, sales, marketing and data protection.
Why are events like the UK IT Industry Awards important to the IT industry?
The UK IT Industry Awards are one of the most - if not the most - prestigious awards, providing unparalleled recognition in the sector. This event plays a pivotal role in showcasing the latest innovations and determining the direction of progress in the IT industry.
We are honoured that our managed service, smartbloc. is considered one of the top Security Innovations of 2023. To be on the shortlist signifies recognition of our commitment to simplifying cybersecurity and data protection services.
The UK IT Industry Awards will take place on 8th November in London. Click here to view the shortlist and here to book your table.
