Cyber security firm targeting £3m revenue

BOOMING demand for cyber security is fuelling jobs and growth at Lancashire-based Secure Information Assurance (S-IA).

The business, based in Ribchester, is targeting £3m turnover within three years by rolling out its trusted IT protection services to the SME market.

S-IA has long term contracts in place to protect key Government departments from the growing threat of digital hackers, criminals, terrorists and viruses. HMRC, the Ministry of Defence and The Treasury all use S-IA technology.
 
S-IA has secured £500,000 venture capital investment from the North West Fund for Digital & Creative, managed by AXM Venture Capital and has used some of this funding to develop a new product for SME’s sold on a fixed subscription model.

Last year, more than 74% of SME’s suffered a security breach, up from 60% in 2014.

The Government actively encourages cyber protection and offers grants of up to £5,000 for small firms to stiffen up their security arrangements as part of a national policy to tackle the cyber threat to the United Kingdom.

The company now plans to target SMEs with a simple subscription service which enables them to protect their IT system.

Martin Knapp, managing director of S-IA, said: “Too many SME’s are vulnerable to data theft, identity theft and disruptive viruses. We’re taking our experience in defending some of the most sensitive areas in Government and rolling it out to SME’s in an affordable and simple way.
 
“We’re confident that now is the time for us to use our expertise to help small and medium sized businesses benefit from the same types of protection used by large, complex organisations.”
 
In 2013, Martin Knapp and co-director Steve Jewell led a buyout of Secure IA from New York-based Mycroft Talisen Inc, backed by investor Steve Hibbert.