Intelligent CISO Issue 29 | Page 51

COVER STORY nd-user Carl Baron, Chief Information Security Officer, SIG plc Access to, and the use of data, is a strong contributor to a company’s business strategy and it was this that increased the need for SIG plc to ramp up its protection from potential cyberattacks. Carl Baron, Chief Information Security Officer, SIG plc, tells us how KnowBe4‘s solution helped it to improve its cybersecurity posture. KNOWBE4 DECREASES RISK OF PHISHING ATTACKS FROM 32% TO 7% AT SIG PLC IG plc is a leading S wholesale distributor of building materials in Europe, particularly insulation and interiors, roofing, as well as exteriors and air handling. Founded in 1957 as a single site insulation distribution business from the inside of a converted ice cream van in Sheffield, the company has made several acquisitions over the course of 63 years, allowing it to become the powerhouse it is today. Indeed, it has around 9,000 employees dispersed across 585 branches in the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. Challenge within three primary areas: customer service; customer value; and operational efficiency. However, to achieve this, it depends upon key ‘strategic enablers’. This includes investing in technology and systems to better understand customers and products, while simultaneously becoming more efficient. It also means greater investment into data management because access to, and the use of data, is the bedrock behind the realisation of the company strategy. With this growing importance in technology and data, it became increasingly vital that SIG was protected from a cyberattack. Indeed, one of the main challenges the company faces lies in its final ‘strategic enabler’: the talent. In an effort to maintain its prominent role in the construction industry, SIG has the primary goal of advancing its operational and financial performance SIG, like any company, relies on its dedicated and talented employees. Regrettably, it is well-established that employees also act as the likely entry www.intelligentciso.com | Issue 29 51