01732 759725 44 regulated sectors or supply chains, that level of assurance is expected and increasingly influences supplier selection. Daniel Gilbert: Customers want to know that they can trust a service partner to deliver what is being sold, and standards and certifications are reflective of the company’s commitment to what they are selling to the market. Our teams are rigorously tested to achieve ISO certifications yearly [9001, 14001 and 27001], providing independent verification of the calibre of our service. Information Security Management demonstrates our security framework covering our people, processes, and technology, while the Quality Management ensures consistent, controlled, and auditable service delivery across each of our channels. Cyber Essentials is a further independently-verified certification process of our cyber systems proving to customers that we have the fundamentals right. This in turn aligns with their own compliance obligations as it reduces risk for them within their own supply chain. We also have vendor‑specific security validations and proficiency tests in order to maintain the high value partnerships that we have with OEMs like Ricoh, Xerox and Epson. Customers need assurance that their provider’s security practices are externally verified – not self‑declared – as this demonstrates maturity and accountability that we have as a long-term solution provider. David Lees: Yes, we see independent validation as a critical differentiator in today’s security-conscious market. ABS operates in alignment with recognised industry standards including ISO 27001 for information security management, and Cyber Essentials accreditation. Together, these frameworks underpin how we manage risk, deliver services, and continuously improve operational security across both our managed print and IT divisions. We also ensure our OEM and technology partnerships meet strict security and compliance requirements, giving customers confidence that security is maintained throughout the entire supply chain. Independent certification is not simply a compliance requirement for us; it is a core part of demonstrating trust, accountability, and resilience in everything we deliver. It provides customers with they can trust. For us, independent validation isn’t just a differentiator, it’s what gives credibility to the conversations we’re having with IT and security teams every day. Michael Field: Absolutely, independent validation is essential, not optional. Our customers are trusting us with sensitive data and critical infrastructure, so evidence matters more than assurances. We hold Cyber Essentials Plus certification, meaning our systems have been independently tested and verified, not just self-assessed. We are ISO 14001 accredited, GDPR-compliant by design, and we align our security practice with ISO 27001 and PCI DSS frameworks for customers in regulated sectors. Our OEM partners bring their own device-level certifications, including Common Criteria, which factor into every hardware decision we make. In competitive procurement, particularly in public sector and healthcare, this level of verified assurance is increasingly decisive. Lee Manning: We work to recognised security standards and actively support customers in achieving them as part of their wider security strategy. This includes Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, alongside alignment to frameworks such as ISO 27001. Our role is not just advisory. We help customers understand what is required, identify gaps in their current environment, and implement the controls needed to meet those standards. For many organisations, that process brings structure and clarity to how security is managed day to day. Independent validation gives customers confidence that controls are in place and maintained to an agreed standard. It also provides a clear benchmark that can be built on as requirements evolve. For organisations operating in encrypted workflows and central policy control, rather than relying on where someone is working or what network they’re on. We also use AI-assisted analytics in a sensible way, to improve visibility, highlight unusual activity and support secure configurations. That helps customers modernise their print setup without losing control of security or compliance. Andy Johnson: As print environments become more cloud-connected and automated, we’re building security in by default. We’re adopting cloud-first, zero trust architectures, automating updates and threat protection and applying the same cyber standards to print as the rest of IT. That ensures customers can embrace AI, automation and cloud print without increasing risk – and with full visibility, control and resilience. PrintIT Reseller: Which security standards and certifications have you achieved and do you see independent validation of your company’s commitment to security as a key differentiator? John Rivett-Carnac: We work closely with manufacturers such as Canon, Ricoh, Sharp and Develop. While many security credentials sit at the manufacturer level, we see our role as ensuring these capabilities are correctly implemented, managed and continuously monitored. Independent validation is increasingly important in the market. Ryan Green: Security standards and independent validation are hugely important to us, because in a market full of bold vendor claims, customers need to know there’s real substance behind the advice. As a business, Carbon holds Cyber Essentials Plus, which we see as a baseline rather than a badge, it independently validates how we protect systems, data and access across our own environment before we ever advise customers on theirs. Alongside that, I’ve personally achieved a Certified Cyber Security Professional qualification, because I believe the people giving security advice need to understand the risks, controls and trade‑offs properly, especially in areas like print, where it’s often overlooked or oversimplified. That combination of external certification and hands‑on knowledge allows us to cut through marketing noise, challenge assumptions and give our customers clear, practical guidance …continued Lee Manning
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