Amtivo launches national campaign to raise awareness of the growing cyber risk facing Irish SMEs, and the importance of structured security standards.
Amtivo has launched a national campaign in Ireland to raise awareness among Irish SMEs of the increasing risks posed by cyber threats. As cybercrime continues to evolve in frequency and complexity, the campaign encourages businesses to explore a structured approach to safeguarding sensitive information and building operational resilience with ISO/IEC 27001 certification.
The campaign comes at a time when ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and data breaches continue to dominate headlines, including the recent widely reported cyber attack on Marks & Spencer. The incident underscores the operational and reputational consequences that cyber breaches can bring, regardless of organisation size or sector.
Many small and medium-sized businesses assume their size offers some protection against cyber threats; however, in reality, these businesses are frequently targeted, and many SMEs still operate without formal cyber security standards, often relying on informal or outdated practices. This can leave them more vulnerable to disruption, financial loss, and data compromise. Structured standards such as ISO 27001, can help support organisations in managing information security effectively.
Amtivo is spotlighting ISO 27001, an internationally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to identifying information security threats, implementing effective measures, and adopting a cycle of continual improvement.
“In my experience, as a Lead Certification Auditor and Trainer, it is critical for all organisations seeking to be certified to ISO/IEC 27001 to understand that ISO/IEC 27001 is a ‘Management System Standard’ – not a framework, model, or structure, etc.” said Dr. Luke Feeney, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and Trainer at Amtivo. “It is specifically a top-down, management driven, risk-based continual improvement standard with requirements to underpin organisational management of the security of their data, information, and information processing facilities. This is a key message as it is often mis-identified as a standard specifically designed for IT/ICT Depts/Teams, Cybersecurity Teams, Technology Teams, and their like.”
To help Irish SMEs take their first step, Amtivo is offering a free downloadable guide: “A Beginner’s Guide to ISO 27001”. This resource outlines key principles in a clear and accessible way and provides a roadmap for organisations looking to better protect their data and reputation.
Businesses can download the guide here.
