Accountants earn cyber accreditation

A Shropshire firm of accountants has achieved a Government-backed cyber security standard that demonstrates its commitment to keeping clients’ data safe.

Telford-based Turas Accountants has earned the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation after undergoing a rigorous independent check of its data security processes.

The accreditation – the highest level under the Government-supported scheme – means Turas’s systems and security controls meet the stringent standards required to guard against the most prevalent forms of cyber attack.

Turas owner Helen Columb said she was delighted to be able to offer clients extra peace of mind regarding their data security.

“There has been a growing trend of small to medium accountancy practices being targeted by scammers and we wanted to ensure that we had all the necessary measures in place to thoroughly protect our data and that of our clients.

“We have all seen the damage that cyber attacks can do, for instance at Marks & Spencer, so it is essential that we have these measures in place to reassure our clients that their data is safe with us.

“We are delighted to have achieved the higher level of accreditation which clearly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to data protection and shows just how seriously we take the issue. We have fantastic support from our IT partner Greg Sheppard, of Amery IT Support of Priorslee, who has been brilliant at ensuring everything is in place to keep our cyber security in the best possible shape.”

Cyber Essentials provides a set of technical controls that organisations should have in place to mitigate the most frequent cyber threats. It helps ensure protection against common attacks, demonstrates increased cyber security awareness in a company and a commitment to ensuring clients’ data is as safe as possible.

To achieve the Cyber Essentials Plus standard, companies must undergo a robust hands-on assessment of their systems, conducted by an external certification body.

Turas, which is based in Hall Court in Telford Town Centre, started trading in 2013 as Columb & Gosling Accountants.  It changed its name to Turas Accountants five years ago under Helen’s leadership.

It now works with clients across the country covering VAT, company accounts, bookkeeping and payroll. It specialises in e-commerce, helping clients who have online businesses using marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Etsy. 

Pictured:  Helen Columb of Turas Accountants