DWP Agrees to Cyber Security Renewal Deal with Auriga

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has agreed to a renewed IT security contract with cyber security company Auriga. Under the contract, Auriga will continue to provide security assurance services (SAS) in line with the DWP’s IT security strategy.

Auriga says that it will offer an updated implementation method that will embed cyber risk accreditation and management services within standard working practices.

The firm added that it hoped the change will allow DWP to invest security spend and other resources only where necessary, and will enable the department to steer clear from the rigid approach typically taken with accreditation.

Louise Dunne, chief executive of Auriga, said that for an SME, it is an achievement to secure a contact with a large government department and even more so for it to be renewed.

She said:

“We’re now seeing the public sector no longer doing things the way they have always been done; there’s a hunger for change and excitement at the prospect of applying new dynamic strategies. And that’s precisely what we’ll be doing during the next two years by working with the DWP to embed a cyber risk-led SAS that looks to use security selectively.”

The UK government is clearly becoming aware of the importance of protection against cyber threats. SMEs are also slowly coming to terms with the dangers of such threats, but they are still failing to take adequate action. By reevaluating their IT security recruitment strategy, they would be taking an important step in securing data in their company, which in some cases is as crucial as the company itself.