RMT Technology has launched a new cyber security division to help businesses understand and manage cyber risk, protect their operations and respond to an evolving threat landscape.
The specialist technology arm of RMT Accountants & Business Advisors is expecting to create eight new jobs in the coming 12 months and around 50 over the next five years through the new service line.
It is delivering a range of strategic consulting services around cyber strategy, compliance, training and exercising, alongside technical assurance through testing, certification and security architecture development.
The new service is being led by industryleading cyber security specialist Stew Hogg, who has more than 15 years’ experience of helping governmental, public and private sector organisations map out, enhance and implement their cyber security strategies.
Stew is one of the UK’s most highly-qualified cyber professionals, holding the UK Cyber Security Council Chartership and a fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Information Security among many accreditations, and was awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Services to Cyber Security by Northumbria Police.
He has experience of working across a wide range of sectors, including higher education, energy, critical national infrastructure, healthcare, government, professional services, FinTech and manufacturing, and has regularly worked alongside government, regulators and national police forces.
Stew Hogg says: “Operational resilience is key to the survival and success of every modern business, and with the forthcoming Cyber Security & Resilience Bill set to introduce new requirements for organisations within its scope, cyber security must be high on the agenda for business leaders.
“Recent high-profile incidents have demonstrated just how significant the operational and commercial impact of a cyber incident can be, while developments in areas such as AI are changing the threat landscape at great speed.
“Our focus is on serving our clients, protecting their organisations and empowering them to make cyber security a core part of their wider business and growth strategies.”
The Government’s latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that 43 per cent of UK businesses had experienced a cyber breach or attack in the previous 12 months, while fewer than 30 per cent had a cyber incident response plan in place.
Stew Hogg continues: “Not every business can afford to have someone working full-time on cyber security matters, so we’re tailoring our services to give SMEs and larger organisations access to specialist expertise at a level that reflects their needs, risks and ambitions.
“Businesses that proactively get ahead of evolving threats not only show their clients that they’re serious about cyber security but can also gain competitive advantages and access to new commercial opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.
“Very few firms in the North East are offering professional services expertise alongside a comprehensive range of cyber security services and we see significant potential to build a leading regional capability.”
Stephen Slater, managing partner at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors, adds: “Our investment in this new division reflects the growing importance of cyber resilience to the businesses we work with and our ambition is to begin to quickly realise the significant growth potential we see in this area.”
RMT Accountants and RMT Technology are part of the Sumer Group, the UK’s fastestgrowing accountancy firm, which delivers professional support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and employs over 3,000 staff across more than 80 offices.
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