Now the Refractiv Group's directors are aiming to secure international clients and more than double turnover to £4m.

Refractiv specialises in ensuring IT systems are tough enough to withstand security threats.

The company is warning that firms are at risk from staff who have been made redundant and seek revenge by attacking their former employer's IT system.

Bill Twibill, the company's director, said: "There is more evidence that attacks (on IT systems) are happening.

"It's a very sad fact that when people are made redundant they can be tempted to take the skills they have developed and use them for nefarious gain. Part of a business continuity plan, or a disaster recovery plan, for an organisation, should focus on the 'what-if?' scenario.

"You have to make sure that when people go they are not in a position to take this kind of revenge. Every organisation has to think about security. Our clients are all around the country."

The Refractiv Group, which is based in Normanton, West Yorkshire, was formed last year from the amalgamation of three IT companies – Sandford Technology, Virtronix and Leap Frog.

Virtronix works with London Marathon organisers to ensure their office network is protected from Internet-based attacks.

Each year, along with other IT suppliers, Virtronix creates a network carrying timing data for the London Marathon runners, which has to be dismantled and packed away straight after the race ends.

The security systems Virtronix support protect the London Marathon's offices and race-day infrastructure, and the network used by the media to file their stories.

The company also maintains the office network security for the British Academy.

Mr Twibill said: "The threats are always changing, which is why we can't sit still. People need to think about how they are going to address those new risks.

"When we talk to our clients, the majority perceive that the risk comes from inside an organisation. It's not about the employees being malicious. It's just unwitting behaviour. They might want to download a piece of music or photographs, and that can open up threats."

Group turnover this year is expected to rise from £800,000, to £1.6m.

The company has 16 staff and hopes to hire more when the economy improves.

Mr Twibill, a former army officer who has also worked as a principal consultant for IBM Global Services, said the company planned to stay in Yorkshire because it was close to the UK's "centre of gravity".

He added: "I don't think our business is recession-proof but we do very strongly believe that once you have started having a security system, you can't suddenly stop it. You have to respond to new threats.

"As we get towards the end of 2009 and start looking to 2010, we will be very much in a growth period.

"We certainly want to try to go international. It's never easy trying to break into new international markets, but with the right people and the right services, that's something that's always a possibility.

FROM BATTLEFIELD TO BOARDROOM

Bill Twibill, one of the directors of the Refractiv Group, was trained to combat security threats on the battlefield.
He spent seven years in the army, before moving into business.

He joined IBM (International Business Machines) in their consulting services division and soon rose to become a principal consultant in IBM Global Services.

He then moved to be the global head of an "emerging business opportunity" that IBM was leading.

In this role, Mr Twibill brought to market new technologies and services that brought $80m in revenue to IBM.

He left IBM in order to pursue interests in the small business sector and to help emerging businesses realise their potential. Today, as managing director of Virtronix, he is responsible for boosting sales across Refractiv Group.