Can Data Connect assess our AI security?

Data Connect can help organisations understand how generative and agentic AI affect their existing cyber security environment and identify where improvements may be required across governance, architecture, identity, vulnerability management, monitoring and other security disciplines.

How should we secure AI agents?

Start by understanding what each agent can access and what actions it can perform. Apply least privilege, restrict unnecessary functionality, define appropriate levels of autonomy and maintain monitoring and human oversight proportionate to the risk.

Should organisations block generative AI?

Not necessarily. Generative AI can provide significant business benefits. The objective should be to understand how it is being used, determine which risks are acceptable and introduce appropriate governance and technical controls around its adoption.

How are cyber criminals using AI?

AI can help attackers perform activities such as reconnaissance, social engineering, phishing, vulnerability research and development of malicious content more quickly and at greater scale.

Shadow AI is the use of AI applications or services without appropriate organisational visibility or approval. It can introduce risks around confidential information, regulatory compliance, data ownership and access to business systems.

What is agentic AI security?

Agentic AI security focuses on AI systems capable of taking actions through connected tools, applications and data. Controls need to consider what an AI agent can access, which actions it can take, how much autonomy it has and where human approval is required.

What is generative AI security?

Generative AI security is the process of identifying and controlling the security risks associated with technologies such as large language models and generative AI applications. Risks can include sensitive data exposure, unauthorised AI use, insecure integrations, excessive permissions and AI-specific attacks.

Can you support a London office whose head office or security team is based overseas?

Yes. We can work with London-based teams as part of a wider international organisation, including where cyber security strategy, governance or technology decisions are controlled by an overseas head office. Our specialists can collaborate with local stakeholders, global security teams, internal IT departments and existing suppliers. This helps ensure the London operation’s risks and responsibilities are understood without creating unnecessary duplication or conflict with group-wide policies.

Can you support organisations with multiple London sites or offices across the UK?

Yes. We support organisations operating across multiple offices, remote workforces, cloud platforms and third-party locations. Our services provide centralised visibility across the organisation while accounting for differences between offices, business units and technology environments. Information from relevant Data Connect services can be consolidated within the vSOC Connect Console.

What cyber security services are available to London organisations?

We support London organisations with cyber risk management, attack surface management, managed detection and response, firewall management, security awareness training, penetration testing and Cyber Essentials certification. Services can be used individually or combined into a broader managed cyber security programme. We begin by understanding your organisation’s risks, existing capabilities and business priorities before recommending the most appropriate support.

What are the five core pillars for reducing the risk of a cyber attack?

An effective cyber security strategy typically focuses on five connected core areas: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover. Identify: Understand what you need to safeguard: critical systems and data, who owns them, key dependencies, vulnerabilities and the most likely/high-impact risks. Protect: Put proportionate safeguards in place across people, process and technology (e.g. access controls, patching, secure configuration, backups, security awareness). Detect: Monitor systems and users to spot suspicious activity early (e.g., logging, alerting, endpoint and network monitoring). Respond: Have clear incident response plans, roles and escalation paths so you can contain, investigate and communicate quickly when something happens. Recover: Restore services and data safely, minimise downtime and improve controls based on lessons learned (including testing backup and recovery procedures). No single control prevents every attack, but addressing all five areas reduces exposure, improves early detection, limits impact and helps you recover faster.

Is vSOC Assure tailored to specific industries?

While the core components and delivery approach of our cyber risk management service are consistent, the risks, threat landscape and operational priorities vary significantly by sector. That means vSOC Assure is absolutely tailored to each industry, so you get a programme that reflects your environment, regulatory expectations and real-world exposures, rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy and roadmap. One industry we’ve supported extensively is manufacturing, where cyber risk often extends beyond traditional IT into OT environments including bespoke and legacy systems. For manufacturers, we focus on practical risk reduction, helping you identify and prioritise the cyber risks most likely to impact production, safety and business continuity and then building a clear, actionable roadmap with IT and senior leaders to improve security maturity over time. For a deeper look at our work in manufacturing, visit Cyber Risk Management for Manufacturing .

A Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for setting and leading the organisation’s cyber security strategy. Their role is to align cyber risk management with business priorities, ensuring risks are understood, managed and communicated clearly at an executive level. They act as a bridge between technical teams and the board, providing insight, assurance and strategic direction.

Are on-premise firewalls still required if I move to SASE?

It depends on the desired architecture. On-premise firewalls may remain to be used to simply ensure resilient access to SASE services through SD-WAN or may used for LAN segmentation in support of the wider security architecture. Typically requirements for on-premise firewall are greatly reduced which will save licensing costs and management overheads. In some cases only a router may be desirable.

How are security policies managed and updated in a SASE environment?

Policies are centralised in a cloud management plane, allowing administrators to apply rules across all users, devices, sites and cloud workloads. Updates propagate automatically without manual configuration on individual endpoints.

What role does Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) play in a SASE architecture?

CASB monitors and enforces security policies for cloud applications, ensuring data protection, compliance, and visibility into shadow IT activity within a SASE framework.

How does SASE improve performance for remote users compared to traditional VPNs?

SASE routes traffic through distributed cloud points of presence, reducing latency and improving connection reliability for remote and hybrid teams, while still enforcing security policies.

Can SASE enforce identity-based access across multiple cloud providers?

Yes. SASE applies consistent access policies across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other platforms, ensuring that authentication and authorisation are aligned with Zero Trust principles.

How does SASE combine SD-WAN and security services?

SASE integrates networking (SD-WAN) with security controls such as SWG, CASB, FWaaS and ZTNA, delivering both connectivity and protection from a single cloud-managed platform. SD-WAN can also be achieved standalone without SASE to provide for resilient internet capabilities.

How does micro-segmentation work within a Zero Trust architecture?

Micro-segmentation divides the network into isolated zones, enforcing strict access control at the application and workload level. This limits lateral movement if an account or device is compromised. Its often fairly simple to further segment user to user communications limiting the “blast radius” in the event of a single user device being compromised.

What methods are used to continuously verify user and device trust?

Verification relies on multiple signals, including device posture, location, user behaviour, access history and threat intelligence. Policies adapt in real-time to reduce risk exposure. Many solutions can even utilise signals from other solutions such as anti-malware or threat intelligence platforms.

Can Zero Trust integrate with existing Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems?

Yes. Zero Trust works alongside IAM solutions, enabling strong authentication, single sign-on and centralised policy enforcement without replacing current infrastructure. Its always worth checking that your ZTNA solution of choice supports your existing Identify solution.

How does Zero Trust handle multi-cloud and hybrid environments?

Zero Trust solutions can enforce identity-based policies consistently across on-premises, private and public cloud workloads. Continuous verification ensures secure access regardless of where resources reside. A ZTNA solution may be implemented centrally to do this or through the amalgamation of various ZTNA capable tools depending on the environment and requirements.

What is the difference between Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and traditional VPNs?

ZTNA grants access based on identity and device posture rather than network location. Traditional VPNs adopt a "castle and moat” style whereby access is granted once to allow access to internal resources. A ZTNA approach on the other hand continuously reviews access rights, limits lateral movement and provides granular access control to applications rather than the full network.

What role does a SOC play in secure networking?

A Security Operations Centre (SOC) provides continuous monitoring, detection, and response across network and cloud environments. In a secure networking strategy, a SOC ensures that access controls, segmentation, and configurations remain effective over time. Our purpose-built SOC, known as vSOC, helps identify suspicious behaviour, detect misconfigurations, and respond quickly to incidents, reducing both risk and dwell time.

How does micro-segmentation reduce cyber risk?

Micro-segmentation reduces cyber risk by dividing networks into smaller, isolated segments based on function and sensitivity. This limits lateral movement within the environment, meaning that if an attacker gains access to one area, their ability to move to other systems is restricted. Micro-segmentation is especially valuable for protecting critical assets, sensitive data, and regulated workloads.

What is SASE and how does it improve network security?

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cloud-based security model that combines networking and security services into a single framework. It improves network security by delivering consistent access controls, threat protection, and monitoring regardless of user location. SASE is particularly effective for organisations with remote users, cloud applications, and hybrid infrastructure, as it reduces complexity while improving visibility and control.

How does Zero Trust networking differ from traditional network security?

Traditional network security assumes trust once a user is inside the network, often relying on VPNs and perimeter defences. Zero Trust removes this assumption by continuously verifying users, devices and access requests. Access is granted based on identity, context and risk rather than location. This reduces the risk of credential misuse, limits lateral movement and provides stronger protection for cloud and remote access scenarios.

What is secure networking and why is it important?

Secure networking is an approach to network security that combines modern access controls, monitoring, and architecture to protect users, data, and infrastructure across distributed environments. It is important because traditional perimeter-based security models are no longer effective in cloud-first and hybrid organisations. Secure networking reduces attack surfaces, improves visibility, and limits the impact of breaches by enforcing identity-based access and continuous verification across the network.

How do I get access to the vSOC Connect Console?

Access is provided as part of your managed services with Data Connect. To get started, book a demo or speak to one of our experts to explore how the platform console can support your organisation.

How does the console support decision-making at the board level?

The vSOC Connect Console empowers boards with clear, visual insight into cyber maturity, progress, and investment impact. Through benchmarking, heatmaps, and Gantt charts, it shows exactly where resources are being directed and what progress is being made. Executives can access board-ready reports at any time, while all users have ongoing support available directly through the portal.

Can I customise my dashboard in the vSOC Connect Console?

Absolutely. You can tailor your dashboard view to focus on the metrics that matter most to you, enabling more efficient prioritisation and quicker access to key insights.

Is the vSOC Connect Console suitable for non-technical users?

Yes. The console is designed with all stakeholders in mind, offering an intuitive, user-friendly interface and clear reporting dashboards ideal for both technical and executive-level users.

How does the console help with compliance, like Cyber Essentials Plus?

The vSOC Connect Console supports your compliance journey by providing continuous monitoring, tracking certification readiness in real time, and highlighting where your organisation falls short. Compliance alone can lead to complacency, so our approach helps you understand what actions are needed and ensures ongoing improvement. With access to technical support throughout the year, our services also provides a roadmap for strengthening security and addressing gaps you might not know to discuss.

Which services are available through the console?

You can access the full suite of vSOC managed services via the console, including: vSOC Assure (Cyber Risk Management) vSOC CERT (Cyber Essentials Review Toolkit) vSOC Recon (Vulnerability Management) vSOC Manage (Managed Firewall) vSOC Alert (Managed Detection & Response) vSOC Aware (Security Awareness Training)

What is the vSOC Connect Console?

The vSOC Connect Console is our centralised cyber security platform that provides full visibility, control, and actionable insights across all your managed services. It acts as your organisation's cyber security command centre.

What kind of organisations do you partner with?

We work with a wide range of partners, including managed service providers, IT consultancies, and security resellers. Whether you’re looking to expand your service offering or strengthen client security, we’re here to support you.

What are the benefits of partnering with Data Connect?

As a partner, you gain access to our expert security team, the vSOC Connect Console, and a suite of managed services you can offer to your own clients. We provide sales enablement support, co-branded collateral, and ongoing technical assistance to help you grow your business.

How do I become a Data Connect partner?

Becoming a partner starts with a conversation. Get in touch with our partnerships team to discuss your goals and explore how we can work together. We carefully evaluate all potential partners and technologies to ensure alignment, focusing on organisations that share our cyber security values and want to bring customers the right solutions.

What certifications and experience does the Data Connect team have?

Our team is made up of subject matter experts with extensive hands-on experience and a wide range of industry-recognised certifications. Unlike IT-focused providers, everything we do is centred on security. We’re not a compliance organisation - we bridge the gap between technical detail and practical security, ensuring every decision supports a stronger, more resilient posture.

Can I speak with a current Data Connect customer before signing up?

Absolutely. While we prioritise our clients’ privacy and security, we’re happy to arrange a direct conversation between you and one of our existing customers. Just get in touch to set up a call.

What is the vSOC Connect Console and how does it work?

The vSOC Connect Console is your central hub for managing all cyber security activity in one place. It allows you to oversee projects, allocate tasks, and track progress across every service. The platform brings together internal performance data and third-party metrics, such as penetration testing results, to give stakeholders a clear, real-time view of where you stand and what actions are needed next.

Who typically uses Data Connect’s services?

We work with organisations that want to better understand their current security position and gain external verification of their defences. Many have capable IT teams but lack dedicated security specialists. In a landscape where threats are constantly evolving, we help them make the most of what they have, close critical gaps, and gain the reassurance that their “doors and windows” are properly secured.

What makes Data Connect different from other cyber security providers?

We build lasting relationships through exceptional service and trusted expertise. Our high customer retention rate reflects our commitment to helping and supporting our clients every step of the way. We deliver managed services through our own vSOC Connect Console, combining our managed services with technical excellence to provide outstanding value, visibility, and long-term partnership.

New rules can be run against all data within the platform, enabling searches for newly identified IOCs across retained data (up to 12 months).

How long are logs and events retained in the platform?

They are retained for a standard period of 12 months in fully searchable hot storage, ensuring fast access and immediate availability for queries, audits, or operational needs throughout that time.

How are events collected into the platform?

Typically a physical or virtual forwarder will be deployed onsite to collect and forward logs into SecOps. Cloud-to-cloud API pulls are also widely available for various cloud applications. SecOps provides flexible, secure paths to get every event into the platform without opening inbound firewall ports or deploying heavy agents.

How long does it take to get fully deployed?

Initial setup is quick and Data Connect will help support customers in onboarding log sources, rule tuning typically then takes 2–4 weeks.

Where is your Security Operations Centre (SOC) based?

Our SOC is based in the UK, where it's closest to our customers.

Which log sources, SaaS apps, clouds and security tools do you integrate with out-of-the-box?

We integrate with 600+ connectors including Google Cloud, AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365, Azure, Okta, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks and Cisco.

Can penetration testing cover all areas of our business?

Yes. We assess networks, applications, cloud infrastructure, APIs, physical premises, and staff awareness through red teaming, social engineering, and advanced breach simulations—providing a complete view of your attack surface.

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Recognising Manufacturing Excellence Across Yorkshire

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Recognising Manufacturing Excellence Across Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s manufacturing strength is not simply rooted in its rich industrial heritage. Today, manufacturers across the region are embracing new technologies, investing in skills and finding innovative ways to compete in increasingly complex markets. Whether investing in automation, developing new products or improving operational efficiency, these businesses continue to demonstrate the resilience and ingenuity for which Yorkshire is known.

Their contribution extends far beyond the products they make. Manufacturers create skilled employment, strengthen supply chains and drive investment and innovation throughout the regional economy and beyond. As a strategic cyber security partner to the sector, we see first-hand the expertise, ambition and resilience behind this continued success.

That is why Data Connect Group is proud to sponsor the Manufacturing Award at the Yorkshire Post Business Awards, taking place in Leeds on the 11th November 2026. The award celebrates the organisations helping to move the industry forward whilst celebrating ‘the region’s trademark craftsmanship’, giving us an opportunity to recognise the people and organisations shaping the future of manufacturing across Yorkshire.

Well done to Abraham Moon & Sons, Cryer & Stott Cheesemongers Ltd, Redtronic Ltd, SoluPak Ltd and Tadweld Ltd on being shortlisted for the Manufacturing Award.

These finalists have shown:

Growth and consistent commercial performance, increased market share and operational effectiveness
Approach to training, team and future talent
Approach to sustainability and positive impact on the environment.
Any investment in R&D and the ROI it has generated

Building Resilience in Modern Manufacturing

Our relationship with the manufacturing sector extends well beyond this award.

As a trusted cyber security partner to manufacturing organisations, Data Connect Group sees how technology is transforming the industry. Greater connectivity, automation and data-led decision-making can create significant opportunities, but they can also introduce new risks.

Manufacturers often operate complex environments where modern IT systems sit alongside operational technology, specialist equipment and legacy infrastructure. They must also manage access across suppliers, partners and multiple sites, all while maintaining production and meeting demanding customer schedules.

We hear first-hand from manufacturers that even a few minutes of downtime can disrupt production and have serious operational consequences.

A security incident can halt production, disrupt supply chains and compromise commercially sensitive information. It can also undermine the customer confidence and reputation that manufacturers have spent years building. Effective cyber security must therefore support the wider goals of the business, enabling productivity and innovation rather than creating barriers to them.

Managing one of the most complex operating environments of any industry is no small undertaking, and the expertise and resilience required deserve recognition. Manufacturers understand better than most that cyber security is not simply an IT consideration; it is fundamental to maintaining production, protecting supply chains and supporting long-term growth.

Read Manufacturing Cyber Security: Aligning IT, OT & Leadership | Data Connect

A Strategic Approach to Cyber Security

Every manufacturing environment is different, and traditional IT-focused approaches can overlook the distinct risks found across operational technology. Effective cyber security therefore depends on understanding how IT, OT and wider business operations connect, giving technical teams and leadership a shared, actionable view of risk.

Drawing on more than a decade of working with manufacturers, we’ve developed vSOC Assure, a cyber risk management service designed to help manufacturers protect their IT and OT environments. It brings together specialist expertise, recognised cyber security frameworks and practical guidance to help manufacturers strengthen resilience, reduce the risk of downtime and make confident security decisions.

Looking forward to celebrating Yorkshire’s manufacturers

The Yorkshire Post Business Awards provide an opportunity to recognise the organisations and individuals making a lasting difference across the region.

We are looking forward to meeting this year’s finalists, hearing their stories and celebrating the expertise, innovation and ambition found throughout Yorkshire’s manufacturing community. We are also honoured to present the Manufacturing Award and recognise a business that represents the very best of the sector.

Congratulations to all the finalists. We look forward to celebrating with you in Leeds on the 11^th November 2026.

See how vSOC Assure works