RMT Technology launches new cyber security division to help businesses strengthen their resilience

RMT Technology is launching 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 will deliver 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 industry-leading 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.

As part of the business’s growth plan, Gosforth-based RMT Technology will also look to help tackle the growing shortage of cyber security skills by providing new training and industry certification opportunities for local young people.

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. At the same time, developments in areas such as AI are changing the threat landscape, making it increasingly important for businesses to understand their exposure and build appropriate resilience.

“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.

“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.”

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.

“The North East already has an evolving community of talented cyber security experts, but with the demand for these services expected to increase dramatically, this community needs to continue to grow.

“We want to provide a platform on which the next generation of North East cyber security professionals can gain the recognised industry qualifications and charterships they need to build successful careers while contributing to the overall development of our business.

“The experience that I and our highly qualified team can share from working at the very highest level, and from understanding how cyber security provisions translate into business impact, will feed directly into this process.”

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 to build a leading capability in this area.

“With the launch coinciding with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, there couldn’t be a more relevant time to highlight the importance of giving businesses access to the specialist expertise they need to manage cyber risk with confidence.”

RMT Accountants and RMT Technology are part of the Sumer Group, the UK’s fastest-growing 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.