Category: Uncategorised

We want to ensure that we are protecting our company through preventing cyber-attacks. We are proud to have renewed our Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification, (a government backed scheme) and continuing, as a company to put measures in place that further heighten our security.

To pass the certification we had to meet five main technical control themes. These included:

1. Firewall Controls
2. Secure configuration for devices and software
3. User access control to data and systems
4. Virus & Malware protection
5. Hardware and Software update management

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022, found in 2021, 39% of business have identified a cyber-attack. Whilst this percentage is still high, since 2017 this figure has decreased by 7%, showing that through cyber security, we can identify and act against cyber-attacks

At the start of 2022, the Cyber Essentials scope was extended to further protect businesses. Some of these changes include:

• All Cloud-based services now must be included and tested
• More stringent Passwords and two-factor authentication rules
• Unsupported software must be on quarantined machines
• Updated rules around Routers and Firewall settings.

In addition to remain secure, we also follow the most up to date Government, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidelines.

With the ongoing security threats the NCSC have been launching “Cyber Aware” campaigns across the country to remind individuals and companies, that no matter the size, it is crucial to protect themselves.

The “Cyber Aware” campaign, amongst others, promotes two main actions:

1. Strengthening passwords by using 3 random words (3RW)
2. Enabling 2-step verification (2SV), also known as multi-factor authentication.

This month we are putting these two measures fully into place and are promoting the campaign internally, encouraging our employees to extend this security beyond the business into their private lives.  This will not only go one step further in protecting employee’s sensitive data, but it will also mean that every individual acts as a firewall to protect our business against potential cyber-attacks.

As part of our policies, all employees undergo continuous training on cyber security and as part of this, and all will be fully trained on how to set up and use 2 step verification methods as well as advice on how strengthen passwords.  

As a leading open forge supplying critical parts, we have been asked for our opinion on the current challenges facing UK manufacturing companies. Believe it or not, Somers Forge Ltd is still a family-run and has been since 1697, which is well over 300 years! In fact, we are proud to say that we are the 10^th oldest family-run firm in the UK.

The complex forging process makes us a high energy intense company, with this in mind, much like many businesses, costs have been soaring. From the visuals of forging ingots in excess of 20 tonnes, you will have a greater understanding of energy and high skill level involved in the forging process. This raises the question that we should be supporting British industry. As a company we are happy to be a spokesperson to bring awareness to the fact heavy engineering still takes place in the heart of the UK and to continue to push the government for support which is inline with other countries.   

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Why buy from a British manufacturer?

The biggest benefits of using UK based manufacturer are:

• Less supply chain risk
• Greener supply chain
• High level of control over quality
• Bespoke/ low minimum order products
• Lower transportation costs
• Greater flexibility
• Greater communication
• Reduced lead times

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The common challenges customers face with supply chains outside of the UK?

• Slow lead times
• Volatile international delivery cost
• High supply chain risk
• Focus on more bespoke product
• Greater quality control importance

We have donated over a 1,000 bottles of hand sanitisers to secondary schools in Halesowen. As a critical defence supplier, we have stayed operational and continued to manufacture throughout the pandemic with measures in place. Realising the challenges this has created for not only the critical manufacturing sector, but also for the next generations education.

We recognise the high case numbers, and we have donated over 1,000 hand sanitisers to our local secondary schools to ensure we do our bit for the local community we operate in.

One of the schools included Windsor High School who we have previously teamed up with to take part in the STEM Project. The project included showing how we are being environmentally friendly through investment in the latest technology. The aim was to boost student’s engagement in the key topics and show them future career options outside of a classroom.