Cyber security for Birmingham businesses.
Senior, hands-on help with cyber incidents, Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001, from a specialist with an office at Lightwoods House on Adkins Lane, Smethwick.
When something goes wrong
Most of the incidents I deal with start with a compromised Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace mailbox, and most can be contained remotely. It's a same-day emergency line, and in most situations I can start remotely within the hour of your call.
If it helps to be in the room, I can be with you the same day. With an office in Smethwick, on the western edge of the city, a visit is never a big production.
Incident response starts with a fixed-fee first response of £795, which covers stopping the attack and a preliminary investigation. Read more about how incident response works.
Why Birmingham firms are a target
Birmingham has one of the largest professional services communities in the UK outside London, alongside manufacturers and their supply chains right across the West Midlands. Those businesses move money and hold sensitive data, which makes them exactly what criminals look for.
- Law firms and conveyancers. Completion money is a magnet for fake bank detail change emails, usually sent from a mailbox that's been quietly watched for weeks.
- Accountants and financial advisers. Client financial data and access to online accounts, with clients and insurers increasingly asking for Cyber Essentials as proof the basics are covered.
- Manufacturers and suppliers. Larger customers, defence and public sector contracts often require Cyber Essentials before you can bid or stay on the supplier list.
- Recruiters. High volumes of CVs and personal data, and inboxes that attackers love to hijack.
Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 in Birmingham
Whether a customer has asked for Cyber Essentials or you're going for ISO 27001 to win bigger contracts, the work is the same wherever you are: a clear review, hands-on fixes, and the evidence to pass first time. Most of it happens remotely, with on-site sessions for workshops, device checks and audit preparation.
If you're wondering about budget, start with how much Cyber Essentials costs.
Local help worth knowing about
- The West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre is a police-backed, not-for-profit organisation that helps businesses across the region with free guidance. Worth joining.
- If you've lost money, report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and call your bank straight away.
- If personal data was exposed and people could be put at risk, the ICO needs to hear about it within 72 hours of you becoming aware.
The Birmingham office
The Birmingham office is at Lightwoods House on Adkins Lane in Smethwick, close to the A456 Hagley Road and a short hop from the city centre, the Jewellery Quarter and the Black Country.
fromIT Birmingham
Lightwoods House, Adkins Lane
Smethwick
Birmingham B67 5DP
Get directions
Meetings are by appointment, so give me a call or book a time first.
What I can help with
- Cyber incident response, with a fixed-fee first response of £795.
- Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, from gap review to certificate.
- ISO 27001, from scoping to a successful certification audit.
I work alongside your IT provider or in-house team, and you deal with me from first call to finish. Find out more about me.
Birmingham questions
Can you come to our office in Birmingham?
Yes. Most incident work is quicker done remotely, but when it helps to be in the room I can be with you the same day. You're also welcome to meet me at the Birmingham office at Lightwoods House on Adkins Lane, Smethwick, by appointment.
How quickly can you start on an incident?
It's a same-day emergency line, and in most situations I can start remotely within the hour of your call. The first few hours make the biggest difference, so call rather than email: 03333 401 999.
Do you only work with firms in the city centre?
No. I work with organisations right across the West Midlands, including Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Coventry.
We need Cyber Essentials for a contract. How long will it take?
For most small organisations it's a few weeks from first call to certificate, depending on how much needs fixing first. I'll give you a realistic date after the gap review, so you can tell your customer with confidence.
We already have an IT provider. Is that a problem?
Not at all. I work alongside your IT provider or in-house team, and you won't be asked to switch.
Based in the West Midlands? Let's talk.
Book a 30 minute call to talk through your setup. Dealing with an incident right now? Call 03333 401 999.