Cyber Essentials explained: what it is and why your business needs it
Cyber Essentials comes up a lot, in tenders, insurance forms and supplier questionnaires. But what actually is it, and is it worth doing? Here’s a straightforward guide.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification scheme that helps organisations protect themselves against the most common cyber attacks. It focuses on five technical controls that, together, stop the overwhelming majority of opportunistic threats.
The five controls
- Firewalls, securing the boundary between your network and the internet.
- Secure configuration, setting up devices and software to reduce vulnerabilities.
- User access control, making sure people only have the access they need.
- Malware protection, defending against viruses and other malicious software.
- Security update management, keeping everything patched and up to date.
Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials is a verified self-assessment, you complete a questionnaire that’s reviewed by a certification body.
Cyber Essentials Plus includes everything in the base level, plus a hands-on technical audit by an assessor to confirm the controls are genuinely in place. It carries more weight and is often required for higher-value or public-sector contracts.
Why it matters
- It wins work. More and more contracts, especially public sector, require certification to bid.
- It supports insurance. Many cyber insurance policies expect it as a baseline.
- It genuinely reduces risk. The five controls address the attacks most businesses actually face.
- It builds trust. It’s a clear signal to clients that you take security seriously.
Getting certified
Certification is very achievable with the right support. We carry out a gap assessment, help you close any shortfalls, and manage the certification and annual renewal for you.
If Cyber Essentials is on your to-do list, get in touch, we’ll make it straightforward.