A Secure Innovation Security Review (SISR) brings value even to already highly security conscious organisations deeply embedded in technology and cybersecurity.
The initiative, which the UK Government majority funds for participating businesses is an opportunity to uncover new perspectives and strengthen resilience – something that Chevin Technology can attest to wholeheartedly.
The Cambridge-based business is a pioneering engineering design consultancy and IP core provider that specialises in high-performance ethernet IP cores and silicon security solutions.
They recognise more readily than most the critical need to secure their business structure. Already working with Innovate UK Business Growth, it was their Innovation and Growth Specialist, Reuben Isbitsky, who recommended the SISR, seeing the advantages for Chevin Technology as they pursue international expansion and investment.
The review proved essential in helping Chevin Technology reinforce their foundational knowledge, resulting in practical organisational improvements and crucial validation ahead of securing US investment and global partnerships.
Strengthening foundational security
Working alongside Innovate UK, Chevin recognised that scaling up required identifying and addressing security challenges ranging from cyber, physical & insider threats to partnership, collaboration, IP protection and investment risks, both within UK and internationally. Their focus during the SISR was therefore clear: protect their IP and plan for growth.
“Creating a secure IP protection & growth strategy and structure that aligned with our company’s core values as we scale up was a high priority for us.” Karen Rogers, COO, Chevin Technology
Selecting the right expert
With a wide selection of experienced security experts to choose from, Chevin Technology selected a reviewer who could understand their unique challenges and the IP environment they operate in.
Chevin were impressed by their reviewer’s methodical and in-depth approach to understanding their core concerns. Karen describes their advice as “pragmatic and detailed” with a clear understanding of their team size and capacity, providing specific guidance relevant to each stage of team size, organisational growth and resource capability.”
Transformational insights
The SISR provided essential direction, transforming the way Chevin Technology are approaching their long-term strategy. One crucial outcome was helping them focus their thinking going forward and establishing the security framework needed for sustainable growth.
The review provided both the guidelines and resources to act as a valuable snapshot and roadmap for the future, such as:
- Increasing their awareness of security risks.
- Implementing secure processes and procedures throughout the organisation to identify and analyse security risks.
- Embedding a security based approach to new partnerships, collaborations and potential investors to identify and mitigate potential risks to proprietary IP and the company.
- Creating security documentation and procedures for innovation, management, recruitment and training.
Driving global growth
The most substantial benefit of the SISR was the strategic clarity it provided, particularly when engaging with external stakeholders and potential investors.
Chevin Technology recently joined the Silicon Catalyst incubator in the US, a major milestone for the company and a preparatory step to securing US investment. The SISR demonstrates Chevin’s commitment to secure IP innovation and processes and partnerships with those who share common values.
“While the review has given us a valuable insight into the potential risks and pitfalls that are commonly encountered by scale ups, it also adds value by demonstrating our security awareness to potential business partners and investors.” Karen Rogers
The company has also joined Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme (GBIP) to Japan and Australia, focused on semiconductors and cybersecurity, respectively.
The SISR provided a critical foundation for these visits, helping the company to protect its assets while travelling.
“Participation in GBIPs has been a positive experience for our company, offering introductions to potential partners, collaborators and customers that would have ordinarily been difficult to access.” Karen Rogers
Chevin Technology are now more equipped than ever to reassure customers and partners that they are designing securely from the outset.
Looking to the future, Chevin Technology are excited to leverage the review as a foundation for eventually obtaining product-specific certification.
Innovate UK will continue to work with Chevin as it pursues its global ambitions.
We are pleased with the outcomes from the SISR. The security experts were extremely helpful and provided useful advice, recommendations and resources to refer to as we grow our business. I highly recommend it.
– Karen Rogers, COO, Chevin Technology
Interested in how a Secure Innovation Security Review, delivered through Innovate UK, can help your business strengthen security and unlock new growth opportunities?