At Apex, our IT team works tirelessly to keep systems and data safe – and we want our customers to feel confident in their own security, too.
Why Security Matters
Our systems handle sensitive customer data within the recovery and breakdown industry. That means our security must always be ahead of the game. For any business, a breach doesn’t just risk legal and financial consequences – it can also damage trust.
Threats to Your Security
At Apex, Jack, our Cloud Engineer, is focused on keeping our cloud-based systems secure – the very systems that power our applications and support our customers. His work doesn’t just involve maintaining technology; it also means staying ahead of the ever-changing world of data protection, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Today’s biggest threats come in the form of ransomware, phishing, and social engineering. These aren’t the clumsy attacks of years gone by – they’re now highly sophisticated and increasingly difficult to spot. With malware often operating quietly in the background, even the most cautious user can be tricked by an email that appears legitimate, but is in fact designed to lure them into clicking on a link or opening an attachment that hands their data straight over to a hidden “bad actor”.
Times to be careful!
Many breaches are avoidable. Like it or not, everyone on the team has a role in protecting both operations and reputation. Here are some moments when extra caution is essential:
• Feeling busy, stressed or distracted? That’s when mistakes are most likely to happen.
• Expecting an email? Even so, always check carefully before opening anything that lands in your inbox, or your spam folder.
• Look out for imitations. Some phishing emails are crafted to resemble messages you might reasonably expect.
• Stay alert at your desk. Routine tasks like allocating jobs, checking invoices, or reviewing spreadsheets can cause lapses in concentration. One careless click can hand access straight to an attacker.
• Be wary of tempting offers, like tools that claim to auto-delete old emails. They may sound helpful, but always verify before you act.
Apex Internal Testing
Apex protects its data – and yours – by staying vigilant and carrying out strict internal testing. This not only defends against external threats but also keeps our staff alert and prepared.
We run regular phishing ‘scenarios’, designed to focus employee awareness and test that we are not subject to a data breach. By being constantly ‘on the ball’ we reduce customer risk, too.
IT Threats and Human Error
We’re all human – and humans make mistakes. That’s why it’s no surprise that more than 75% of data breaches involve a human element.
As a Cloud Engineer, part of Jack’s role is to help maintain and run our infrastructure, with security as a core pillar. From rigorous testing to ongoing updates, security is considered at every stage of designing and delivering services. Our systems are monitored continuously, 24 hours a day. Anti-virus protection is also essential across all systems and servers. At Apex, we use various tools, which don’t only detect phishing emails but also learn from their patterns. In fact, they automatically block and delete around 95% of these threats before they even reach an inbox.
Alongside this, encryption is a fundamental safeguard. Encryption of data in transit protects information as it moves between systems or networks, preventing interception or unauthorised access during transmission. Encryption at rest secures stored data on disks, databases, or backups, ensuring that even if storage media is compromised, the data remains unreadable without the correct decryption keys. These measures mean that sensitive information remains protected at every stage of its journey.
ISO 27001 Audit
The ISO 27001 audit is an internationally recognised standard for managing information security. It’s tailored to each business, taking into account size, purpose, and daily operations. The process includes a detailed risk analysis and looks closely at how those risks are managed.
At Apex, we undertake ISO 27001 regularly and continually review best practice requirements to improve our Information Security Management System (ISMS). Achieving ISO 27001 certification demonstrates, beyond doubt, that we have robust, audited controls and risk management in place.
The process
• It begins with a risk analysis: identifying where the greatest risks lie, who is most affected, and which devices are most vulnerable. From there, we assess what policies and measures can be introduced to reduce those risks.
• We also highlight areas that do not pose a risk, making sure we can clearly justify why they’re not relevant to the business.
• Auditors then review this scope, selecting a number of controls to verify that they are correctly in place. They’ll also revisit any areas we’ve marked as “no risk” to ensure our reasoning is robust.
General Security
Keeping up can be daunting. Here are some areas to consider:
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever it’s available. This usually means logging in with your username and password, plus a six-digit code sent to your phone.
• Install an authenticator app (such as Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator) and use it wherever possible for added protection.
• Verify suspicious emails by confirming directly with the sender before replying or clicking on any links.
• Keep all software and devices up to date to close off known vulnerabilities.
• Have a Disaster Recovery Plan in place, and make sure everyone understands it and practises it regularly.
• Stay aware of evolving IT security threats, as tactics and risks continue to change.
Security Is Everyone’s Responsibility
At Apex, we know that technology alone isn’t enough to stay secure – it takes people, processes, and constant vigilance. From rigorous internal testing to our ISO 27001 certification, we are committed to protecting both our systems and the sensitive data our customers trust us with.
But security doesn’t stop with us. Every click, every login, and every decision made by individuals plays a part in keeping information safe. By staying alert and following best practices, we can all reduce the risk of breaches and protect not just operations, but reputations too.
If you’d like to know more about how Apex keeps data secure, and how we can support your business, get in touch with our team today.
