CIRO Achieves Cyber Essentials Plus
CIRO proudly announced in early 2025 that it had successfully achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification— a major step forward in strengthening our cyber resilience and protecting of member data.
As a membership organisation representing over 13,000 professionals across the rail industry, data security and integrity have always been central to CIRO’ s operations. Achieving this certification provided assurance to members, partners, and stakeholders that the organisation was operating with the highest standards of security, integrity, and accountability when it came to handling sensitive information.
What Is Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed certification scheme that outlines a baseline of technical controls to help organisations guard against common cyber threats. Cyber Essentials Plus builds upon this foundation by requiring a hands-on technical audit, making it a more robust demonstration of effective cyber security practices.
To gain certification, CIRO underwent a comprehensive assessment by an independent IASME-approved auditor. This included vulnerability scanning, endpoint testing, and detailed checks on system configurations— ensuring that CIRO’ s digital infrastructure was resilient against the most prevalent forms of cyber-attack.
Why It Matters for Our Members
For CIRO, safeguarding the personal data and trust of its members remains a top priority. The certification confirms that strong systems and protocols are in place to secure information and digital assets, giving peace of mind to the entire CIRO community.
In an increasingly digital operating environment, cyber security had become not just a necessity but a fundamental responsibility. From accessing member benefits to engaging with learning platforms and partner systems, members and stakeholders could be confident in the security of their interactions with CIRO.
Continuing the Journey
Reflecting on the achievement, CIRO’ s IT Manager, Zoe Bull, said:
“ The Cyber Essentials Plus process was rigorous but extremely valuable. It gave us the opportunity to strengthen our internal systems, demonstrate our commitment to best practice, and engage our teams in conversations about cyber resilience. More importantly, this isn’ t the end— we’ re continuing to pursue further accreditations that will strengthen our processes and increase our organisational robustness.”
Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus was more than just a milestone; it reflected CIRO’ s investment in secure systems and ensuring the highest standards of data protection within the modern rail industry. With a forward-looking approach, CIRO remains committed to reviewing and enhancing its cyber security landscape to meet the demands of an evolving digital future.
For more information on how CIRO protects your data or to learn about its digital strategy, visit: www. ciro. org www. ciro. org
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