Business finance comparison site, FundOnion, has today opened submissions for its inaugural Rugby League Business Awards.

The awards celebrate small businesses supporting, working in or supplying the Rugby League community and are open to those who associate with any rugby league club, in men’s, women’s or wheelchair games.

Entries are free and can be completed at the following site. The entries are open now and close on June 1.

Categories include Best Company, Community Engagement, Innovation and Fast Growth, each of which will focus on a different aspect of the work and challenges that businesses face every day and the ingenuity they display in overcoming them.

The winners of each category will win a pair of VIP tickets to the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 12, joining other winners and the FundOnion team for a special day celebrating their achievements and association with the sport.

Winning businesses will also receive a complementary growth consultation from FundOnion’s partners.

FundOnion CEO and co-founder James Robson, said: “It is easy to picture the UK business community as the small collection of FTSE 100 companies that are reported on the news and in papers, but in reality, it is the millions of SMEs up and down the country that really drive the UK economy. Our work so far has taught us that innovation and ambition is alive and well in the UK, if it has the right support, this is what we want to highlight with this award programme.

“Rugby League is a sport that rewards hard work and perseverance but also innovation and skill, and in the last few months we have seen the impact it, and the businesses associated with it, has on local communities and economies. We can’t wait to celebrate the great individuals and businesses that make up this community at Old Trafford in October, and hope it will shine a light on a fantastic area of British business and ingenuity.”

Editorial credit: Thomas McAtee / Shutterstock.com

The United Arab Emirates has seen a dramatic increase in interest from British investors, evidenced by a 420% rise in Britons relocating to the region over the past five years. In response, Ortac International Accounting has opened a new office in Dubai to facilitate company establishment services for these international interests.

Ortac International Accounting has inaugurated a new office in Dubai to better assist citizens from various countries, including Britain, with their company establishment needs. The popularity of the UAE, particularly Dubai, has soared among British citizens, as highlighted by a significant 45% increase in relocations in 2023 alone.

Murat Ortac, Founding Partner of Ortac International Accounting, commented on the strategic advantages of Dubai, stating that the city’s “flexible procedures and favorable tax advantages” are major draws for entrepreneurs and professionals.

With over 240 thousand British expatriates residing in Dubai and approximately 5 thousand British companies operating in the UAE, Dubai stands as an increasingly important destination for international business ventures.

Ortac International Accounting offers efficient and seamless company establishment services in Dubai, leveraging its expertise and strategic partnerships. As the authorized professional partner of IFZA, Dubai’s premier free zone, Ortac ensures swift completion of company establishment procedures and banking formalities within just 7 working days, along with the provision of a two-year investor visa.

“The corporate tax rate and the tax system in general are important for business people who plan to establish a company in foreign markets. With its 9% rate, the UAE is almost at the top among the countries with the lowest corporate tax in the world. With the law enacted at the beginning of 2024, it became mandatory to work with an accounting company. With our 27 years of experience in accounting, we are now serving in Dubai,” Murat Ortac said.

Dubai’s competitive edge is its low tax rate and enviable expat lifestyle 

Dubai’s status as a global trade hub is underscored by its investor-friendly policies, including tax exemptions and a zero percent personal income tax. Its removal from the grey list in February 2024 further bolsters its appeal, enhancing operational ease for foreign entities and facilitating global business expansion. Dubai serves as a pivotal gateway connecting East and West, offering entrepreneurs access to investment opportunities in Asia as well.

Positioned as a nexus between continents, Dubai boasts world-class infrastructure and connectivity, facilitating seamless access to international markets. Its strategic location and advanced logistics infrastructure make it particularly attractive to companies operating in Consulting, IT, technology, software, blockchain, trade, logistics, and finance sectors.

Ortac International Accounting helps clients navigate complexity

Murat Ortac comments, “We recommend those who want to establish a company in Dubai to work with an expert business partner like Ortac International Accounting instead of surfing general information on the internet. Choosing an expert partner will save clients both time and cost.”

Navigating the complexities of international trade laws demands specialized expertise. Ortac International Accounting, with its comprehensive knowledge and experience spanning over 27 years, ensures efficient business expansion and compliance with local regulations. Collaborating with local stakeholders and authorities, Ortac minimizes bureaucratic hurdles, enabling swift realization of expansion goals.

Data breaches can have a devastating impact on both organisations and data subjects, regardless of the circumstances. After a breach, organisations can face a multitude of issues, including operational disruption, reputation damage, loss of customer trust and regulatory consequences. Though businesses exist that offer data protection as a service, there are still a few core concepts of data breach management best practices that every business should be aware of.

Developing a long-term data breach framework and security strategy is key for any organisation to remain proactive and help mitigate the consequences of a data breach. It’s important for organisations to have a well-rounded approach to data breach management, and the below is a list of five tips to ensure you build an effective response to both cyber and non-cyber incidents.

Cyber vs non-cyber breaches: What’s the difference?

Some of the biggest personal data breaches in recent history have involved cyber-attacks on organisations by malicious third parties. A prime example is Yahoo’s 2013 breach, which involved 3 billion user accounts and was reportedly initiated by a spear-phishing email.

Despite the growing concern of cyber-assisted breaches, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) posits that non-cyber incidents still account for the highest number of reported breaches in total.

A non-cyber breach could also be referred to as a physical or offline breach. As each name suggests, these happen through physical means, and usually involve some form of human error. Between October and December 2022, 75% of reported UK personal data breaches were classified as non-cyber, with “data emailed to the wrong recipient” cited as the leading cause, accounting for almost one in five incidents.

Data breach management best practices

No matter the organisation size or industry sector, proactive steps need to be taken to prevent a data breach. A robust plan should seek to offer more than mere protection from data breach penalties; it should allow organisations to respond swiftly and, ideally, provide the following advantages:

• Build customer trust
• Preserve brand reputation
• Strengthen partnerships
• Mitigate business disruption
• Give stakeholders peace of mind

By having a robust plan and well-prepared staff, organisations can reduce the impact of potential attacks whilst demonstrating a firm commitment to safeguarding customer information. While larger organisations typically have dedicated teams and support for ongoing data security training, smaller businesses – especially self-employed individuals – can face unique challenges due to a lack of resources.

Businesses in the UK can review the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) data protection guides for small organisations. For businesses in the EU, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) offers a similar guide.

5 tips for an effective data breach response

1. Establish a data breach response team

This can be a single person or a group, who will manage security incidents. Time is of the essence when responding to a breach, and a dedicated response team will play a vital role in minimising impact whilst safeguarding sensitive information. Ideally this person or team should have a firm understanding of data protection considerations, along with any immediate technical mitigation.

2. Review your data processing activities

Understanding how and where your organisation processes personal data (as well as the current security measures) helps identify potential weaknesses and highlights any risks. Regular reviews should be part of your overall plan, as they will enable you to make informed decisions on how best to allocate resources to strengthen your data protection efforts.

Creating an Information Asset Register, conducting data mapping exercises and building a Record of Processing Activities (RoPA) can all help with this process. In addition, undertaking Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) on high risk processing activities ensures focus on processes where the impact of a data breach may be more significant.

3. Develop a data breach response plan

Though a risk assessment will identify areas of weakness, a robust data breach response plan ensures staff are prepared if a breach does occur.

The specifics of a plan will vary, and can depend upon organisation size, industry sector and specific data handling practices. As a general rule of thumb, however, data breach response plans should include:

• Details of the data breach response team
• Breach identification and internal reporting and logging procedures
• Legal and regulatory procedures
• Breach containment and mitigation
• External support resources
• Breach risk assessment framework
• Post-breach review procedures
• Training and awareness requirements

4. Monitor for suspicious activity and anomalies

This should be a non-exhaustive and ongoing strategy for identifying potential breaches. Early intervention can reduce the damage caused by cyberattacks or personal data security incidents. Regularly updating and monitoring internal processes based on emerging threats and best practices is ideal. Here are some measures to consider:

• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
• Analyse web application logs for suspicious activities such as multiple login failures
• Conduct regular data protection security audits
• Conduct regular data protection refresher courses for all staff

5. Build a data protection culture

A company culture with in-built data protection awareness and knowledge is perhaps one of the primary factors in data breach prevention. As ICO figures show, the highest number of breaches are non-cyber, and of those, sending an email to the wrong recipient is the most probable cause of a data breach. Ongoing staff awareness and training is a core foundation for a strong data protection company culture.

Summary

Data breaches are an unfortunate reality that we must take into consideration, but by having a robust data breach management plan, organisations of all sizes can reduce the impact of potential attacks and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding information.

By following these five tips and implementing a step-by-step plan, personal information can be safer, data security can be stronger and the trust and confidence of stakeholders and customers can be ensured. Proactive measures and timely responses are the key for effective data breach management, so don’t sleep on this.