Recognition to promote SMB1001 cybersecurity standard

Recognition PR and Marketing has been appointed by Dynamic Standards International and CyberCert to promote the SMB1001 cybersecurity standard, with a brief focused on raising awareness and adoption among small and medium-sized businesses worldwide.

The appointment gives Recognition responsibility for public relations, thought leadership, content development and integrated marketing for SMB1001, a five-tier cybersecurity standard designed for smaller organisations. DSI, which developed the standard, is an international not-for-profit standards body, while CyberCert runs a certification programme for businesses seeking to demonstrate compliance with the framework.

SMB1001 targets a large market. DSI and CyberCert say the standard is relevant to an estimated 400 million small and medium-sized businesses globally, many of which lack the resources to adopt cybersecurity frameworks created for larger companies or public sector bodies.

The standard uses a staged model that allows businesses to adopt security measures according to their size, resources and exposure to risk. Its structure is intended to help companies improve their cybersecurity maturity over time rather than meet a single uniform threshold from the outset.

CyberCert provides a certification route for businesses using the standard. Certification is intended to give customers, suppliers and other stakeholders evidence that a company has taken steps to address cyber risks, particularly in supply chain relationships where larger organisations are increasingly scrutinising the security practices of smaller partners.

Market focus

Recognition's work will include engagement with technology providers, industry associations, enterprises, governments and other stakeholders. The campaign is intended to position SMB1001 as a practical framework for smaller businesses and a tool for demonstrating security practices across supply chains.

The appointment reflects growing commercial and policy interest in the cybersecurity posture of smaller businesses. While major companies and government departments often operate under established compliance regimes, many small firms face cost and staffing constraints that make broader standards difficult to implement.

Peter Maynard, Founder of DSI, said SMB1001 was created in response to that gap.

"SMB1001 provides an achievable, internationally applicable standard that recognises the resources and risks of smaller organisations. Our objective is to give every small business a practical pathway to improving its cybersecurity, regardless of its size or starting point.

Achieving meaningful improvements in global cybersecurity requires engagement on an enormous scale. Recognition's expertise in technology communications and industry engagement will help us build awareness, strengthen partnerships and encourage adoption of SMB1001 internationally," said Maynard.

DSI says the standard is maintained by an international steering committee of industry practitioners and cybersecurity leaders and updated annually to reflect changes in threats and technology. That governance model is intended to keep the framework current while preserving its focus on organisations with limited budgets and lean internal technology teams.

Supply chain issue

The broader case for the standard is that cyber weakness among small businesses can create wider economic risks. Smaller suppliers often sit within larger corporate and government supply chains, meaning a security failure at one company can affect partners and customers beyond it.

Adam Benson, Director of Recognition PR and Marketing, linked the project to that broader concern.

"SMB1001 offers businesses a proportionate approach to cybersecurity while giving customers and other stakeholders greater confidence in how those businesses manage cyber risks.

The potential impact extends well beyond individual businesses. Improving cybersecurity across the small business sector can strengthen the resilience of entire supply chains and the broader economy.

Recognition is proud to support DSI and CyberCert in pursuing this ambition. We look forward to building awareness of SMB1001, engaging industry and government stakeholders, and helping drive adoption in Australia and internationally," said Benson.

Recognition is an Australian-owned business-to-business marketing and communications agency founded in 1985. It works with organisations in technology, defence and aerospace, and the built environment, and has staff across most Australian states and territories.

DSI describes itself as a charity and international standards organisation focused on making cybersecurity more accessible to smaller businesses. CyberCert positions itself as the global certifier for SMB1001, working with a network of IT providers, vendors, insurers, enterprises, regulators and industry bodies to support certification for smaller firms.

The standard and certification programme are intended to offer a lower-cost way for small businesses to demonstrate cyber due diligence proportionate to their size.