Tech firm Cloud Heroes has become one of the first companies in the UK to offer free web encryption to all its hosting customers in a bid to make their activities more secure.
The move recognises the growing need for online transactions and browsing to remain private. Trowbridge-based Cloud Heroes believes its updated cyber security offering will help customers strengthen their own measures and, in turn, protect their own customers against prying eyes online.
Director Andy Grant said: “It’s an ambitious policy, but it will have an enormous effect on our customers. It means smaller businesses can protect their customers online without compromising limited IT budgets. We want the web to be a safe place for banking, shopping and browsing alike, regardless of resources.”
Cloud Heroes hopes that within months all new and existing hosting customers will have been offered the free service for their sites. The service uses SSL Certificates, small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organisation’s details.
Once installed, the certificates will ensure all communication between the sites and visitors is encrypted and safe from eavesdropping. Protected websites will display a padlock in the address bar.
Cyber security has been core to Cloud Heroes’ services since it was founded in 1985 as Internet Service Provider JPC Infonet.
It rebranded four years ago to become Cloud Heroes and now has a team of 12 offering UK hosting and bespoke cloud computing to clients ranging from local charities such as the Genesis Trust and Whale & Dolphin Conservation, to larger firms such as Bath digital media firm Digitalbox, Bath branding consultancy AgencyUK, Swindon bus operator Thamesdown Transport and DoubleTree by Hilton hotels.
Andy Grant added: “Cyber security has always been an integral part of our services, though it’s more important now than ever before. We already offer our customers enhanced cyber security measures such as IP restrictions, two-factor authentication and encrypted backups. We believe it’s part of our responsibility as a cloud and hosting provider to give UK businesses the tools they need to prevent malicious attacks when they use our services.
“Of course, we have strict security measures in place for our internal systems and data centres, but there’s only so much we can do from our end.”
Cloud Heroes was recently shortlisted in HM Government and Tech UK’s prestigious cyber security competition for its innovative solution to data loss and theft.
Pictured: The Cloud Heroes tech team
