Door Industry Journal - Summer 2016

EASYGATES PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO OPEN A TRADE COUNTER! Easygates, Nationwide electric gate & garage door automation, access control and safety supplier has started work on a trade counter at their West Midlands unit that is set to open in early August. The counter will provide trade customers with a fast and convenient way to purchase over 2,000 products. It will also enable customers who have pre-ordered products to have them ready for collection in efficient time. An experienced member of staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice on the most suitable products to meet the individual’s requirements. The entire EasyGates range will be available to purchase from the trade counter with support from our technical sales team as and when required. Managing Director of Easygates, Tony Daniels-Gooding said: “Our online store is going from strength to strength but we still value and appreciate the importance of being able to offer a face to face service. For trade customers close to the West Midlands, the ability to pop by and place an order and take it away with them is invaluable. “We will be looking to add new additions to our trade counter range and plan to display key items for trade customers to familiarise themselves with prior to purchase. We will also be offering a repairs service that can be booked in at specific time slots.” www.easygatesdirect.co.uk EFIA LAUNCHES FREE GUIDE TO CYBER SECURITY FOR FENCING COMPANIES The European Fencing Industry Association (EFIA) has launched a new and unique guide to cyber security, providing its members with free cyber security advice, in addition to guidance on the dangers of internet crime. EFIA Chairman, Bernard KilBride, who has recently completed a BSc degree in computer security, says ‘there has never been a worse time to be connected and unprotected’, with the UK fencing industry a surprisingly vulnerable sector, given their involvement in their clients’ own security requirements. The document – The EFIA Introduction to Cyber Security - highlights the dangers of internet crime and provides direction on how SMEs can protect themselves, in addition to offering information on the main, common types of threat and how to establish an effective security system. In particular, information is highlighted on necessary systems such as passwords, email use, internet use, social media use and back up. “Being a security risk could be hazardous for small businesses. How many customers would buy from a business if they believed their own sensitive information were at risk?” he asks. “This is why EFIA has developed a ‘simple to understand’ industry specific document, designed to raise member awareness of the issues and what can be done about them. It provides suggestions for no (or low) cost solutions that they can implement to improve their cyber security right now.” The free guide is intended as an introduction to the subject and directs members towards the government’s ‘Cyber Essentials accreditation scheme’, with more and more government departments now insisting their suppliers have achieved CE before they can work for them. “Cyber security has become a business critical issue, but unfortunately, many SMEs still take a blasé approach towards this issue and mistakenly, don’t see themselves as targets of cyber criminals.” KilBride explains. “Small to medium sized businesses may not yield value in themselves, but their lack of security awareness and protection makes them valuable as a stepping stone to more lucrative targets e.g.; their customers. We are hoping that the launch of this guidance document will enable members to understand and implement the processes required to maintain their own online security.” For further information on EFIA’s Introduction to Cyber Security, please visit www.efia.com.uk or call 01873 880808. THE door industry journal summer 2016 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 25 industry news