Internet Watch Foundation Achieves International Security Certification - Assisted by 7Safe Information Security

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), based in Oakington, is the national organisation operating the UK 'Hotline' for the public to report their exposure to potentially illegal online content, particularly child sexual abuse images. The IWF works with the online industry, the Government, the police, and the public to ensure abusive images of children are eradicated from UK networks and that internet users are protected from stumbling across such content. With the support of Information Security specialists 7Safe, the IWF has been awarded certification to the international security standard, ISO 27001.

This globally recognised standard is designed to ensure the implementation and continual improvement of security controls that protect the information assets within an organisation.

7Safe, long term supporter of the IWF, offered their consulting services free of charge throughout the compliance programme - assisting the IWF with the ISO 27001 accreditation process.

Fred Langford, IWF Technical Coordinator, who managed the process by which IWF became accredited, said: "The security of information is at the core of the Internet Watch Foundation's operations, especially given the sensitive nature and legal implications of our work. Recognition of the integrity of our processes through certification to the highly respected ISO 27001 standard demonstrates our strong commitment to best security practices and ensures increased confidence amongst our partners and stakeholders."

About 7Safe

Organiser of the ISN, 7Safe, is an Information Security services firm offering a diverse portfolio of services including security training & certification, penetration testing, computer forensics and risk management (including ISO 27001). www.7safe.com

About the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)

The IWF is the only authorised organisation in the UK operating an internet ‘hotline’ for the public and IT professionals to report their exposure to potentially illegal content online. The IWF are funded by the EU and the UK internet industry including internet service providers (ISPs), mobile operators and manufacturers, content service providers (CSPs) and telecommunications & software companies.

Through the hotline reporting system, they help ISPs to combat abuse of their services through a ‘notice and take-down’ service by alerting them to any potentially illegal content on their systems and simultaneously inviting the police to investigate the publisher.

As a result, only 0.2% of potentially illegal content is apparently hosted in the UK, down from 18% in 1997.