businessNEWS
APEER GETS
Are you Prepared for a
2014 OFF TO
CryptoLocker Attack?
FLYING START Listers recently endured a cyber attack from the dreaded
Last year’s surge in sales continues.
Apeer Doors has added a further
CNC machine to its rapidly expanding
Ballymena production facility, making a
total of seven milling machines available
for the manufacture of its technologically
advanced composite doors.
Representing a five figure investment, the
new machine is the latest move to support
Apeer’s booming order books: the company
experienced a phenomenal surge in sales
during the second half of 2013 and has
enjoyed a flying start to 2014.
“The January to March period is
traditionally a fairly steady time but the
New Year got off to an incredibly busy
start,” said Apeer marketing manager Linda
Tomb.
web virus“CryptoLocker”, also known as “Ransomware”.
When Listers staff switched on a computer
and the Cryptovirus screen appeared
they initially thought it was a joke but
then quickly called over the IT expert
who immediately recognised what it was,
promptly unplugged and disconnected the
laptop from the network.
This took just over five minutes from laptop on
to disconnection but by then the Cryptolocker
virus had destroyed 38,200 files and jumped to
11 other computers in the business.
How should you prepare
your business to stay safe?
Firstly ensure that you enforce a companywide
policy of NOT opening Email attachments or
links from senders that you do not recognise or
expect. In Listers case a single individual failed
to do this and the virus attacked.
Secondly, ensure that you have a secure,
offsite backup system updated regularly so
that when you’ve destroyed the virus (and that
may need professional advice) you can restore
any destroyed files from the backup. Listers
had this in place and were able to restore the
38,200 files destroyed.
www.listertf.co.uk, [email protected]
GGF Conservatory
Association Elects
New Chairman
“We wouldn’t normally expect to be this
busy until nearer Easter so our production
managers have been working hard on our
lead times and a lot of IT-based procedures
have been put in place to further improve
our efficiencies.”
The growth in business follows the
launch last year of Apeer’s latest Diamond
Doors and all-new MODO collection.
It led to a major recruitment drive with
new staff taken on at all levels to support a
doubling of production capacity.
Said Linda: “Our investment in
production capacity remains ongoing.
There is an incredibly upbeat feel to the
business at the moment and we have a
number of exciting new initiatives in the
pipeline for 2014.”
www.apeer.co.uk
82
MAR 2014
The GGF Conservatory Association
Members has elected Mark Hanson of
Ultraframe as Chairman of the GGF
Conservatory Association.
In his 18 years at Ultraframe, Mark has
been instrumental in the development of the
company’s brand to its market leading status
today.
His appointment comes as the Association
continues to lobby on two major campaigns:
the “Cut the VAT” campaign aimed at
reducing the VAT on home improvements,
maintenance and energy efficient glazing
from 20% to 5% is gathering real momentum
while the other is the removal of the burden
imposed on conservatory installation
companies by water companies asking for
‘build over’ agreements when homeowners
are building over or within 3m of sewage
pipes, sewers and lateral drains, following their
transfer of ownership to water companies.
Mark commented, “The sector faces
increasing scrutiny on many issues from
the thermal (and in-service) performance
of roofing systems to the way retailers sell
to the general public. The group’s work is
highly collaborative and I look forward to
working on initiatives that will bring about
improvements for the entire sector.”
http://www.ggf.org.uk/group/conservatoryassociation.
To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com