Why Do You Need Cyber Essentials?
In 2024, 50% of businesses in the UK reported that they had experienced some form of cyber security breach or attack. This has been estimated to cost a company, on average, £1,205 per breach. Cyber attacks don’t just have a financial cost, though. Many are never reported externally as they can lead to reputational damage and loss of trust. In some circumstances they can even have legal and regulatory consequences.
Cyber Essentials certification is a government-backed certification that helps protect against cyber attacks. Not only can certification help mitigate risk, it can give businesses a competitive edge too. Businesses of all sizes benefit from Cyber Essentials; it’s not just for large corporations.
What Exactly Is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials certification is a straightforward and cost-effective way in which companies can become more cyber aware and cyber secure. It helps you to safeguard data, comply with regulations, and offer proof of best practice to others.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) oversees the process via IASME-accredited advisors. The certification takes businesses through a set of controls to implement that protect against the most common and easily avoided risks. It is particularly valuable for small businesses, who are unlikely to have dedicated IT support teams or large budgets for cyber security.
You’ll find more detailed information about it in our blog, What is Cyber Essentials?.
Do You Need Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials
This is a self-assessment process that allows businesses to review their cyber security measures against a set of baseline controls. It is then verified by independent assessors. It’s not intended as a test to catch you out. Businesses discover where they are failing to reach the required standards during the preparation process. They can then make all the relevant changes so they can become more secure – and certified.
Businesses will need to demonstrate they are operating best practice with their systems. This includes implementing secure firewalls, maintaining strong password policies, and updating software.
Cyber Essentials Plus
This builds on the basic certification and is more relevant for larger companies and those who need to prove particularly robust cybersecurity. It includes a more rigorous technical audit by an independent assessor.
Most smaller organisations begin with Cyber Essentials and may upgrade later.
Why Is Cyber Essentials Important for Small Businesses?
It helps protect against common cyber threats
A high proportion of cyber attacks are quite ‘basic’. It’s often described as the cyber equivalent of criminals checking to see if your windows and doors are locked. With your house, if you leave your doors unlocked, you’ve made it easy for a burglar to enter. Your computer systems are similar. Leave them unprotected, and you’re making it easy for cyber criminals to get in.
A lot of cyber crime is undertaken via malware (malicious software), phishing attacks, and hacking. These can all be relatively easily deterred and prevented by having the right controls in place.It’s a cost effective way to deal with cyber crime
As with many things, it’s much less time, effort, and money to prevent cyber crime than it is to deal with it once it’s happened. Cyber Essentials certification is a low-cost way to protect your business from external (and internal) threats. It is likely to require some work to get everything up to standard, but it will be worth it.It helps build customer trust
By ensuring your company is grounded in secure systems and processes, you are reassuring your clients and partners that your company and their data is secure. It shows you take your business and its obligations seriously, providing peace of mind.It helps with compliance and legal requirements
Businesses are required to comply with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). They need to adhere to certain practices. Cyber Essentials helps organisations bring their practices into line with various compliance, legal, and regulatory requirements.Some businesses and contracts require it
Many government contracts require Cyber Essentials certification. Without it, companies are not eligible to apply. Many businesses also want to know the companies they are dealing with have secure systems throughout their supply chain. It is likely to become increasingly relevant when organisations are making decisions on who to work with.It can help with insurance
Many insurance companies either require Cyber Essentials or will offer a more attractive price to those who have it. Once a company is certified by an IASME-approved assessor, they are eligible for IASME cyber insurance at no extra cost.
What Do You Need to Do to Get Cyber Essentials Certified?
The first step towards Cyber Essentials certification is auditing your company processes and procedures against the recommendations and requirements. Businesses must fill in a self-assessment questionnaire online to achieve certification. The idea is to work through the question set and bring everything up to the required standards before applying.
When you are preparing for certification, you can make any necessary adjustments to policies, software, and practices. This way you can ensure your responses will be sufficient to gain certification.
Working With an IASME-Certified Assessor
Dark Knight is an IT-support company based in Newbury, Berkshire, and we are IASME-certified assessors for Cyber Essentials. We’ll take you through this important process and help you prepare for certification. We work with our clients throughout the UK; you don’t have to be local to Newbury.
If you need Cyber Essentials certification – and if you’re a business, you do – please contact us. Let’s get you secure!