Newport-based IT consultants launches state-of-the-art data security package

The data security software, known as C-Assure, which has been two years in development, will safeguard computers against all elements of data loss, often caused by cybercrime, and provide on-going data protection through off-site cloud backup.

Unlike other products on the market, C-Assure only backs up new data that has been added to a business’s server during the course of a day - a move away from traditional technology, which has normally only allowed for a full system backup scheduled at a set time.

In June alone, Certus TG performed over 100,000 backups on behalf of its clients, which include the Welsh Rugby Union, the Royal Mint and the Millennium Stadium.
The new technology will enable businesses to save money as they will be able to reduce the amount of data being backed up at any given time and ensure that, in the event of a disaster, information can be easily restored and operations can start up again within minutes.

Nigel Griffiths, chief operating officer of Certus TG, said: “In today’s world, the way in which people can obtain and exploit an individual or business’s sensitive information is becoming increasingly innovative, meaning it can be challenge for businesses to keep up with every potential risk to their data.

“Thousands of organisations across the UK are being targeted by cyber criminals attempting to gather sensitive information on a daily basis. The effects of a security breach can have disastrous, even catastrophic, consequences for a business.

“Research by the British Chamber of Commerce shows that 93% of businesses that suffer data loss for more than 10 days file for bankruptcy within a year, which is why it is startling that 91% of businesses don’t have an IT strategy in place to combat a disaster.

“C-Assure delivers on-going data protection and faster, safer restoration methods that combine backup, replication and recovery into one system, ensuring that in the event of an emergency, operations can continue running with as little disruption as possible.”

According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, cybercrime affected more than 90% of large corporations and 87% of small businesses last year, with high profile cases including attacks on Sony, British Airways and Barclays.

The UK government has stepped up its campaign to fight cybercrime, investing £650 million in its five year National Cyber Security Programme that combats a criminal market which, according to Mcafee security, costs the global economy over £300 billion each year.

Earlier this year, the Celtic Manor Resort hosted the first Welsh Industry Cyber Security Summit, an event that brought together delegates from law enforcement agencies, government bodies and private sector companies across the UK to devise new, innovative ways of tackling the ever-increasing problem of cybercrime.
Certus TG has partnered with Cardiff based Pinnacle Complete Office Solutions, who are on board as the first official reseller of the software in the UK. The office solutions supplier, which has a wide ranging client base covering and specialising in the finance and banking, aviation, public sector and legal industry sectors, will offer data backup and file recovery services to new and existing customers as part of the company’s plans to expand into the IT solutions market.

Clive Hamilton, managing director of Pinnacle Complete Office Solutions, said “Data security is an important consideration for any business, especially when working with sensitive commercial information on a daily basis. Regardless of sector, all of our clients require backup solutions for their IT systems, and now, thanks to C-Assure, we can offer exactly that.

“Knowing how important IT continuity is, we have also implemented C-Assure into our own IT infrastructure which validates our belief in its credentials.

“As an official reseller of C-Assure, I’m delighted that we are able to provide our customers with this versatile software, enabling them to store their data safely and securely while providing peace of mind 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

There are three different variants of the C-Assure, stratus, cumulus and cirrus, all of which vary in terms of capability and data storage size. All backups are copied to the Certus TG Data Centre, which was launched at the end of 2011 in conjunction with Next Generation Data (NGD), and provides high-security, off-site data storage at the 750,000 sq ft industrial complex, one of the world’s largest data centres in Europe.

Newport-headquartered Certus Technology Group, which also has offices in Hemel Hempstead and Warrington, is one of Wales’ fastest-growing technology consultancies, has over 75 members of staff and a turnover of £9 million. The consultancy works with more than 220 clients across the UK, with infrastructure and services ranging from managed IT support and security to advanced storage solutions, cloud services and desktop virtualisation.