NCSC For Startups: Vistalworks cracking down on illicit trade

Vicky Brock is the founder of Vistalworks, an organisation that develops technology to help consumers avoid buying fake, illicit and dangerous goods online.

Vistalworks was created in response to a public innovation challenge set by the Scottish government around how to tackle the illicit trade in goods. And it was another call to the innovation community that helped Vicky take her company to the next level. NCSC For Startups - an initiative that offers startup organisations insights and guidance from NCSC experts - was now focussing on threats and illicit trade. Everything from people and drugs trafficking to moving counterfeit goods.

When the pandemic struck and a lot of businesses moved online, illicit trade did the same. “Crime moved online almost overnight, and since we had developed a product to tackle this, we became very busy, very quickly,” says Vicky.

It was a real period of validation that showed us we could scale. Illicit trade is a real threat to our national security, societal wellbeing and economic stability. The NCSC understood that, which is why we were so eager to take part. It was a real alignment of values.

Participating in the NCSC For Startups programme allows companies like Vistalworks to develop, adapt or pilot technology to meet the biggest cyber security challenges facing the UK. As another lockdown was introduced, Vicky decided to move to Cheltenham for the duration of the 12-week programme. Lockdown meant they spent a lot of time with the other startups on the programme. Vicky was able to work with them for advice on (to name a couple) commercial partnerships and grant funding.

“The programme created a really unique space where there was a level of trust between everyone. I was able to share proposals we were working on without worrying about people pinching our ideas. And that's a rare thing. If somebody from that group needed my help I’d be there for them, and if I needed their help, I knew I could ask them pretty much anything.

"We had incredible opportunities, from meeting the Director of GCHQ to getting NCSC technical support. It helped us think about what we should do next at a national security enforcement defence level. We wouldn't be here doing what we're doing without the benefits the programme provided.”

But it wasn't just an intensive period of learning and making connections. On a practical level, it was thanks to the programme that Vicky realised that getting accredited with Cyber Essentials would be important for getting onto certain supplier lists and government frameworks.

Since completing the programme, Vicky and her co-founder Stephen Budd moved to Estonia to grow Vistalworks’ European footprint and are now working with both the Estonian and Lithuanian governments. The startup has doubled its headcount but Vicky is mindful about growing too quickly, and remains determined to fund the business through grants (rather than venture capital) because she doesn’t want anyone detracting from her mission. She also remains committed to playing an active role in the UK’s cyber ecosystem.

We remain grateful for the opportunity and the doors it’s opened. We’re always open to helping others in the sector whenever we can.

If you're interested in getting access to cyber security experts from industry and the NCSC, the application process remains open for startups to apply to join our NCSC For Startups programme in 2023. You can find out more and apply by visiting the website.

Gill H
Cyber Innovation Communications Lead, NCSC