The first security product accredited by a new
government scheme to ensure products are reliable for the public
sector has been announced.
Jim Murphy, Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for
e-government, launched the quality award scheme this week after a
trial.
BeCrypt is the first company to be accredited under the scheme
for its Connect Protect encryption product.
The Cabinet Office is recommending that the new CCT Mark for
accredited products should be adopted as a market standard across
the public sector.
Murphy said, “This scheme will bring welcome new levels of
confidence and assurance to information security in the public
sector. As public sector services and information systems become
more joined up, the government is taking steps to ensure that those
systems are adequately protected.”
He said, “The CCT Mark will help vendors and buyers alike, and
guarantees that information assurance in public sector
organisations remains robust and retains high levels of public
confidence.”
The Cabinet Office said the CCT Mark is primarily aimed at IT
and information security managers across the wider public sector,
but added it will also provide a guide to small and medium-sized
businesses wanting to know whether their purchasing meets
government’s preferred standards.