A BASINGSTOKE-based cybersecurity company has been given the Royal seal of approval.

MWR InfoSecurity, based in Matrix House, Basing View, was given a Princess Royal Training Award at St James’ Palace, London, on November 2.

The awards, supported by the City and Guilds Group, are designed to highlight those in the industry who are innovating, and providing new solutions, to training.

The cybersecurity company got the gong for its work on its own training service, known as HackFu.

The training consists of bringing the trainees to a location where they have to use their skills to solve a challenge. They use a storyline and actors to make the training session more memorable, and are often set in an apocalyptic scenario. The trainees then have to use all their skills, not just in cybersecurity, but also in the workplace, to get the job done.

Martyn Ruks, strategic advisor to MWR InfoSecurity and managing director at Chronyko, said: “It’s a real honour to receive the award, and it really made us feel like we are doing the right thing. Getting some external validation, especially from a Royal, is absolutely fabulous, knowing that we are having a real impact on the industry.”

The training has been so successful, that the firm has set up a new company that deals in this kind of training. Called Chronyko, the Belvedere House-based company was only set up last month, and has already had a multi-national client come to join in on one of its events.

Martyn added: “It’s a new concept, and we have had some commercial success, which is encouraging. It started originally as an internal training procedure that only had about 15 people in it, and now, the events have around 100 people at a time in them. It has come from humble beginnings to be much more immersive and successful. It provides a safe construct for people to build their skills in a fun, interesting and immersive way.”

Commenting on this year’s recipients, Chris Jones, chief executive of the City & Guilds Group, said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate the second annual Princess Royal Training Awards and honour so many businesses from the South East. The businesses in this region set an example for the rest of the country.”