Cyber Essentials: a one-stop shop to reduce your cyber risks by 98.5%
54% of UK SMEs suffered a cyberattack in 2022, and, as cybercriminals step up their efforts to capitalise on the cost of living crisis, attacks could become more frequent.
The good news is you don’t need advanced software or expensive consultants to strengthen your digital defences. Simply meeting the government’s minimum security standards protects you against up to 98.5% of common cyberthreats.
A Cyber Essentials accreditation is a simple way to master the fundamentals of security. It includes a set of five controls around firewalls, internet gateways, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and patch management, with a checklist of criteria you must meet for each. The guidance is clear and will help you get a robust level of cybersecurity across all important areas, rather than tackling things one at a time.
If you want to continue your accreditation journey, there are more complex options to work towards, too. After gaining your Cyber Essentials certificate, you can go for Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001. These accreditations will help you to maintain a recognised standard of cybersecurity in your business.
To achieve certification you must complete a self-assessment questionnaire and submit it through an online portal. Once you have applied, a certification body assesses and grades the application. After completing the scheme, you will have achieved the basic Cyber Essentials certification. At this point, you’ve shown you get the essentials of cybersecurity in place. If you really want to prove to clients that you have robust cybersecurity procedures, then you will need to be verified by an independent expert. For that you will need to complete Cyber Essentials Plus.
Deciding which certification is better depends entirely on your goals. If you’re looking to achieve certification just to get on the public register and access certain government contracts, you should opt for Cyber Essentials. However, if you want to really show your customers that data protection is a high priority and work with top-notch clients, Cyber Essentials Plus is the better option.
Cyber Essentials Plus
This adheres to the same five security controls as Cyber Essentials but includes a more comprehensive technical audit of your systems. It has a more detailed certification process than Cyber Essentials, making it more suitable for growing businesses.
Our partnership with CyberSmart
We partner with CyberSmart because we believe they have the best package available for our clients who want to be certified with their CyberSmart Bundle.
CyberSmart Active Protect
Provides 24/7 device monitoring, risk management, and technical controls, enabling you to stay on step ahead of cyber threats and maintain a secure environment effortlessly.
CyberSmart Academy
Equips your teams with bite-sized security awareness training, helping them better protect themselves and the business.
CyberSmart Policies
Allows the distribution and enforcement of essential policies across your business. It includes free templates – covering everything from data protection to business continuity and recovery plans.
CyberSmart Dashboard
Gives you a centralised hub for managing your cybersecurity posture, certification status, and vulnerabilities.
Free Cyber Insurance Coverage (up to £100k)
For any customer that completes Cyber Essentials certification.
Cyber Essentials Certification
Delivered faster than anywhere else, with unlimited access to live support and no extra fees for resubmissions.
As a CyberSmart Partner, we are here to help you on your journey to become Cyber Essentials qualified. But, passing the qualification is just the start as the tools that CyberSmart offer, along with our services and consultancy mean that your company will stay protected all year round.
If you are ready to begin your journey to a Cyber Essentials accreditation or looking to renew an existing one, why not contact us now?