Awen Collective joins technology trade association techUK

 
 

We are very pleased to announce that Awen has joined techUK, the UK’s leading technology membership organisation.

Currently over 850 companies are members of techUK, from all across the UK. techUK works collaboratively with the public and private sectors, providing guidance and insight for members about preparing for the future, anticipating change, and realising technology potential in a fast-paced world. techUK is an organisation descended from the British Radio and Valve Manufacturers Association (BVA), and was previously known as the Intellect Trade Association.

Awen Collective became a techUK member in October 2020 with a view to participate in particular interest groups, including the Cyber Security Group and the Smart Infrastructure Group (aka “SmarterUK”), as well as taking advantage of opportunities to help shape the future landscape of Industrial Cyber Security policy for the sake of communities across the UK, Europe and Internationally.

Team Awen is very much looking forward to engaging with the various programmes, initiatives, campaigns at - and members in - techUK and its subgroups.

If you would like to partner with Awen Collective, or if you would like to know more about how we do business in the UK, Europe or Internationally then please do contact us.

Awen Collective software now available on G-Cloud 12 Framework

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We are very pleased to announce that we have been chosen as a Supplier on the G-Cloud Framework 12 of the UK Government Crown Commercial Service (CCS).

Specifically, our Profile software is available as an approved as Cloud Software on G-Cloud 12. Profile helps critical national infrastructure organisations and their suppliers to adhere to the NIS Directive by giving the opportunity to efficiently & collaboratively work through the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) as recommended by UK National Cyber Security Software (NCSC), and supported by the sector regulators.

Profile is made for use in a wide variety of sectors, including: government, energy (electricity, oil & gas, nuclear), water (drinking water, waste water) , transportation & logistics (road, rail, aviation, maritime), healthcare and many more.

Profile can be used organisations firmly in these sectors, or they can be used by service providers who service these organisations. These services providers could be as managed security service providers (MSSPs), professional services companies, IT & cyber security consultancies and many more. Most importantly this also includes the regulators.

Awen Collective is also on another UK Government Crown Commercial Service framework called the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 4 (DOS4), which is targeted more at general service provision on a project-by-project basis.

If any of this is interesting, then please do contact us today. We are happy to talk it through, and tell you honestly what we can and cannot do, and see if we can work together in order to make society safer through increasing our cyber resilience.

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Top 30 British Tech Companies Chosen for UK Gov DIT Tech Export Academy - Awen Collective included!

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It was officially announced by UK Government on 8th September 2020 that thirty of the best British tech companies (which have applications within the growing Smart Cities sector) have been chosen as the first participants of the UK Government Department for International Trade’s (DIT) new Tech Export Academy programme. The 30 businesses chosen include us - Awen Collective!

The DIT Tech Export Academy is an exciting 9 month programme providing a package of support from both the public and private sectors, enabling the 30 businesses to expand and grow their businesses in the Asia-Pacific region.

The programme includes two virtual trade missions to each to a different half of the Asia-Pacific countries, and will culminate in a physical trade mission to Thailand supported by the Thai Government Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The programme will focus specifically on Smart Cities, which is very important in a region that has many of the worlds megacities and a significant desire for growth and progress.

Daniel Lewis, CEO of Awen Collective said “Team Awen are very excited to exploring the Asia Pacific market with the help of the Department of International Trade, as well as partners such as PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, EY, BDO and others. It’s an entirely new region for us to explore - a region which is full of opportunities for our Dot product to truly make a difference to Cyber Resilience for Smart Cities, Critical National Infrastructure and Manufacturing.”

The programme features a wide range of businesses - including those providing services and products in: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Property surveying, Urban planning, Cycling solutions, Electric vehicle chargin, ID solutions and much more. Awen is one of a couple of cyber security companies chosen, and the only one offering a specific software solution for the discovery of assets and vulnerabilities on Operational Technologies (OT).

The programme was kicked off on the 8th September 2020 with a speech by Graham Stuart MP - UK Government Minister for Exports, and a speech by Ajarin Pattanapanchai - Permanent Secretary of the Thai Government Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.

 
Ajarin Pattanapanchai giving a speech to the DIT Tech Export Academy cohort

Ajarin Pattanapanchai giving a speech to the DIT Tech Export Academy cohort

 

The virtual programme kick-off also included a panel consisting of DIT’s Chief Scientific Adviser Dr Mike Short, Oriel Petry (Director of the Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Directorate), Colin Sinclair (CEO of the Knowledge Quarter in Liverpool) and Jane Morrison-Ross (CEO at tech trade body ScotlandIS).

 
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The 30 companies have been split into two cohorts to make it more manageable for the organisers and partners. The cohorts have been named Avalon and Camelot, with Awen appropriately being in the Avalon cohort. Here are the thirty chosen ones:

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Thales NDEC is now a Friend of Awen

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Awen is proud to announce a friendship and partnership with the Thales National Digital Exploitation Centre.

The National Digital Exploitation Centre (NDEC) is an exciting collaboration between Thales, Welsh Government and the University of South Wales. A partnership focusing on digital and cyber security project delivery, education and research. Supporting local and regional businesses, schools and individuals in their digital endeavours, helping to position Wales as a global player in the tech industry.

Awen and NDEC are beginning a journey of exploration to find ways to best collaborate. To begin, Awen will be partnering with NDEC for demonstrations of Dot software on live environments within NDECs OT Cyber Range. Together we will be able to show critical national infrastructure organisations, manufacturers and the defence sector our capabilities to decrease cyber risk and increase cyber resilience within Operational Technology environments, and to do so at scale.

For more information about NDEC please visit their website.

For more details about Awen, please do browse our website and feel free to get in contact.

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Press Release: Awen Collective begins MoD-funded Industrial Cyber Security project

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Date: 13th December 2019
Email: hello@awencollective.com
Location: Caerphilly, Wales, UK

Announcement: Awen Collective begins MoD-funded Industrial Cyber Security project

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded innovation funding to innovative Welsh cyber security software company Awen Collective to undertake an industrial cyber security project entitled “Project DOMINO”. The funding was awarded as part of the DASA Open Call that seeks to discover innovative technologies from non traditional defence suppliers.

“As a small start-up company, the funding and support from the Ministry of Defence will help us to rapidly gear-up and provide innovative, valuable and proven industrial cyber security software to the various parts of the MoD reducing the possible disruption to military capability caused by large scale or targeted cyber-attacks. In addition it will advance the reach of our solutions into other sectors of critical national infrastructure (CNI) and advanced manufacturing, all facing challenges in the face of rapidly increasing cyber threats.– Daniel Lewis, CEO of Awen Collective

The project, based on Dot software by Awen Collective, has arisen from a need not just in the MoD, but across society, where cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure such as energy, water and transportation could have catastrophic effects on people’s day-to-day lives.

The project commenced on the 1st November 2019, and will run for 12 months, culminating in an MoD evaluation of the demonstrated concept. This will lead to further exploitation within the MoD, its supply chain and Industry providers involved with CNI. Awen are being assisted by BAR Associates, a specialist consultancy able to support innovators with capabilities of interest to the UK defence and security sectors. They are adding experienced support to the project in respect of requirement elicitation, test and evaluation, market exploitation, project management and domain expertise.

“BAR Associates are delighted to have helped Awen to secure this project and are excited to be able to support the acceleration of their innovation into the defence sector” - Robin King, CEO of BAR Associates.

This not only provides validation of the solutions provided by Awen Collective, but is also a benefit to the Welsh economy in that these funds will directly create and retain jobs in South Wales. This software, made in Wales, will then continue to be developed and sold from Wales, creating further jobs in the future.

Press Contact: hello@awencollective.com
Awen Collective Ltd is open to questions from the press, and queries from potential clients and partners.

Awen Collective Ltd

Awen Collective Ltd is an ambitious industrial cyber security software company founded in Wales in 2017. The Awen mission is to reduce the cost of cyber threats to critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and their supply chains leading to society.

Awen has released two products:

  • Profile – a compliance checking software product for Critical National Infrastructure providers and their supply chains, assisting them to adhere to the Europe-wide NIS Directive.

  • Dot – an asset & vulnerability discovery software system for the Operational Technologies (OT) found in industrial environments. Reducing industrial cyber risks by enhancing visibility.

Further information about Awen Collective can be found through the website: https://www.awencollective.com/

BAR Associates

BAR Associates is a specialist consultancy helping innovative companies realise strategic value from within the defence and security sector.

We are transforming market access for technology based SME's and the nature and provision of business growth expertise.

Focussed on the defence and security markets in the UK we are supporting strategic growth for those that are committing to it, in parallel with providing access to new market opportunity.

We are matching capability with opportunity within a market ecosystem comprised of SME providers, end users, integrators, contractors and investors who are seeking certainty and alignment.

Our services are based on tangible outputs linking to revenue and value increase.

Further information about BAR Associates can be found through the website: https://www.barassociates.co.uk/