Cyber Essentials is a Government backed scheme that will help you to protect your organisation against a whole range of the most common cyber-attacks.  These include things like Phishing attacks, Malware, Ransomware, Password guessing and Network attacks

Cyber-attacks can affect all businesses in a variety of different ways with varying impacts whatever the size of the business some being catastrophic and costly eventually leading to the closure of businesses. Attacks can be small or large, but the vast majority are very basic and carried out by relatively unskilled individuals. They are the digital equivalent of a thief trying your front door to see if it is unlocked. Cyber Essentials is designed to help you prevent these attacks.

With over 80% of UK businesses vulnerable to avoidable security threats, the Cyber Essentials framework has been designed as a strong security baseline for every business in

There are two levels of certification, Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus dependent on your organisation’s needs.

Certification will reassure current and potential customers that you take cyber security seriously.

Certification gives you peace of mind that your defenses will protect against the vast majority of common cyber-attacks simply because these attacks are looking for targets which do not have the Cyber Essentials technical controls in place. This gives the added assurance to your customers that:

·         You have demonstrated that you have undertaken essential precautions in minimising cyber risk

·         Attract new business as you can demonstrate you take cyber security seriously and have measures in place

·         Satisfy customers, suppliers, insurers and industry regulators requirements

·         Give assurance that the security of your IT systems and networks can protect their data that you hold about them

·         Show that you have a clear focus of your organisation’s cyber security level

·         Satisfy tender requirements that require Cyber Essentials such as government contracts.

·         Listed on the NCSC directory of Cyber Essentials holders, click to view   

·         Includes £25K free Cyber security insurance (terms apply)

·         Cyber Essentials Plus – gives you assurances that what you are doing is working.

Cyber Essentials looks at five simple technical controls which means it is easy to achieve Cyber Essentials certification. Organisations assess themselves against these controls and a qualified assessor verified the information provided: These controls include:

• Access control
• Firewalls and routers
• Malware protection
• Secure configuration
• Software updates

You can download a copy of the self-assessment here. Please note you cannot submit this application form for verification, you will need to complete the online form.