Northampton IT firm earns top government cyber security certification
A Northampton-based technology company has achieved the highest level of the UK Government’s Cyber Essentials scheme — a rigorous standard overseen by the National Cyber Security Centre that fewer businesses attain.
XR8 Technology Services, based at Brackmills Business Park, has passed the Cyber Essentials Plus certification, a step up from the standard tier that requires an independent technical audit, with security controls tested under real-world conditions rather than simply assessed on paper.
The scheme was developed to help organisations across the UK protect themselves against the most common forms of cyber attack, and the Plus level is widely regarded as a meaningful mark of an organisation’s commitment to cyber security.
Harry Leach, IT Architecture and Service Operations Lead at XR8 Technology Services, said the achievement reflects the company’s focus on keeping both its own operations and those of the businesses it works with secure.
“Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrates our commitment to protecting against evolving cyber security threats, while also safeguarding our supply chains and, most importantly, our clients and customers,” he said. “Cyber security is an area where we’re passionate about helping businesses of all sizes.”
Alongside the certification news, the Northampton firm is also reaching out to local charities. The company is planning to offer three months of free IT support to selected charitable organisations across Northamptonshire that could benefit from professional technology assistance, and is inviting charities to get in touch.
XR8 Technology Services works with organisations across the UK, supporting them with IT and cyber security, and has also developed its own scanning platform to help businesses identify vulnerabilities in their systems and strengthen their defences.