Do I need Cyber Essentials?

What is Cyber Essentials, and do I need it? Find out how certification can help protect your organisation

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves, their data and their customer’s data against the most common cyber threats.

It provides a clear framework for implementing basic cybersecurity measures, focusing on five key areas:

User Access Control: Control who can access your data and services and what level of access they have

Security Updates: Prevent cyber criminals using the vulnerabilities they find in software as an access point to your systems

Secure Configuration: Set up your computer securely to minimise the ways a cyber criminal can find a way in

Malware Protection: Identify and immobilise viruses or other malicious software before it has a chance to cause harm

Firewalls and Routers: Create a security filter between the internet and your network

Who is Cyber Essentials for?

Every organisation can benefit from Cyber Essentials, from micro organisations to large enterprises because certification helps to guard against the most common attacks. If your organisation has digital assets or stores any data, implementing Cyber Essentials can help to keep it safe.

What are the benefits of Cyber Essentials?

Achieving Cyber Essentials certification offers a number of significant benefits for organisations:

Improved security

By implementing the Cyber Essentials framework, organisations can dramatically enhance their cyber security posture, reduce vulnerabilities and improve protection. This helps defend against common cyber threats such as phishing, malware and ransomware.

Customer confidence

Achieving Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates to customers your commitment to safeguarding data. This is turn can boost customer confidence and trust, making them more likely to engage, or continue working with your organisation.

Competitive advantage

Certification highlights the care and attention your organisation pays to cyber security. This can prove to be a deciding factor for potential clients and can give you a competitive edge.

Regulatory compliance

Cyber Essentials can help organisations meet basic regulatory compliance such as GDPR, which requires organisations to take appropriate technical measures to ensure data security. This reduces the risk of penalties and legal issues associated with non-compliance.

Business opportunities

In the UK, many government contracts and supply chains (including the Ministry of Defence) now require Cyber Essentials certification. If you want to bid or tender for certain contracts, achieving certification opens up new business opportunities.

How can my organisation become Cyber Essentials certified?

At System 15 we regularly help clients through the certification process. Our team will work with you to understand the requirements, conduct a gap analysis to identify your current security posture, then produce an action plan.

The plan will outline how to implement the necessary security controls, policies and processes needed for certification. Our security consultants will then complete the necessary online questionnaire ready for the assessment phase.

After certification, you’ll receive a Cyber Essentials badge to display on your website and marketing materials, and your organisation will be publicly listed.

You can search the list of Cyber Essentials certified organisations here:

https://iasme.co.uk/cyber-essentials/ncsc-certificate-search/