Unipart (www.unipartsecurity.co.uk) is targeting firms that want to protect themselves from cyber crime. Its Weedon-based subsidiary Unipart Security Solutions is looking to work with SMEs that consider themselves to be vulnerable.

A spokesman said that 60% of UK SMEs and 81% of large organisations experienced an information security incident last year and that victims stand to lose a lot of money, as well as damage to their reputation.

Unipart’s new solution — known as Cyber Assurance — aims to provide cyber security testing services to SMEs, public organisations and enterprise clients.

Andrew Hallam, managing director of Unipart Security Solutions, said: “Few SMEs have recognised the importance of protecting themselves from cyber threats. Equally importantly, many have under-estimated the value of industrial-strength cyber security to their customers.

"With the escalating number of successful cyber attacks on businesses, we believe that contracts may soon be won or lost on the basis of an SME’s ability to demonstrate a robust cyber-security profile.”

Unipart Security Solutions was set up in 2008 as an additional service to those provided by the main group.

It has now developed into a stand-alone business providing manned guarding services, alarm and CCTV monitoring, installations and maintenance, cyber assurance, risk consultancy and investigative services.