Reasons to Get Cyber Essentials Certified
There are plenty of compelling reasons to get Cyber Essentials certified. Cyber crime is a real threat, and not, as you might imagine from the movies, just for government agencies or large corporations. Cyber criminals can cause lasting damage to businesses of all sizes. Research puts 46% of all cyber breaches as impacting businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a government-backed, self-assessment certification scheme designed to help UK businesses defend against cyber threats. As we rely more and more on digital systems, the risk of cyberattack rises. Hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the impact of security breaches can be expensive in time, money, and reputation.
Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates a commitment to and proof of best security practices. It can help strengthen a business’s protection online and build customer trust. Many organisations now require suppliers to be certified, and it is a mandatory requirement for companies bidding on some UK government contracts.
What are the main reasons to get Cyber Essentials certified?
It will help protect your business from common cyber threats
Cyber Essentials helps prevent phishing, malware, and hacking attempts as well as ensuring robust firewalls, secure configurations, and adequate access control.
- Phishing is a type of cyberattack where scammers impersonate companies or banks, for example, to trick people into revealing sensitive information. This often happens via fake emails that appear legitimate.
- Malware, short for malicious software, includes viruses, ransomware, spyware, and trojans (fake downloads disguised as real ones). They can infect devices to steal data, disrupt operations, or gain unauthorised access. This often occurs via email attachments, fake downloads, and compromised websites.
- Hacking exploits any weaknesses in security to gain unauthorised access to a system. It’s used by cyber criminals to steal data, disrupt services, or install malware.
- Firewalls serve as a barrier between company networks and the external internet. They can also be internal, between departments, for example. They are designed to stop attempts to gain unauthorised access.
- Secure configuration of systems can also prevent cyber criminals from penetrating company networks. Networks and applications are often set up with default configurations that are easily hacked. Setting up secure configuration is an easy win.
- Access control is a way of limiting which systems can be accessed, by whom, and when. The fewer people who have access to a system, the fewer opportunities there are for hackers to get into them. It can also help protect against employees accessing sensitive information or acting illegally.
It helps build trust with clients and partners
If you had a choice of two companies, and only one could demonstrate they take their commitment to cyber security seriously, which one would you choose? Businesses need to know their data will be secure – and that the company they are working with won’t be knocked out by a cyberattack.
It improves compliance and reduces legal risks
Cyber Essentials aligns with general data protection regulation, or GDPR. The consequences for breaching data protection legislation can be costly – even when unintentional. Accidentally allowing your data to be accessed by the wrong people comes with extensive fines. As well as a loss of trust and other fallout from reputational damage, security breaches can bring regulatory and legal implications.
You can gain a competitive advantage
The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology’s Cyber security breaches survey 2024 noted that only 12% of businesses and 11% of charities are aware of the Cyber Essentials scheme. Being able to prove you take cyber security seriously can be a unique selling point (USP) compared to your competitors. Some companies choose to only work with Cyber Essentials-certified suppliers. And for some government contracts, Cyber Essentials certification is mandatory.
You can reduce your cyber insurance costs
Some insurance companies offer lower premiums for businesses that have been certified. Companies with a turnover of less than £20m are entitled to Cyber Liability Insurance when they become certified, up to a total liability limit of £25,000.
It’s a simple and cost-effective way to improve your cyber security
Cyber Essentials certification is not an expensive process, and can save an almost limitless amount of money, not to mention time and stress. It’s a self-assessment process that can be completed in a few weeks if you have all the requirements in place.
What are the five controls required for Cyber Essentials certification?
These five controls must be implemented to meet the requirements necessary for Cyber Essentials certification:
- Secure configuration
- User access control
- Malware protection
- Security update management
- Firewalls
The self-assessment process can be tricky to navigate. With expert help you can implement all the necessary measures more effectively and efficiently. You’ll find more information in our blog, What is Cyber Essentials?. We’re here to help.
We can help you get Cyber Essentials certified
Dark Knight is an IT-support company based in Newbury, Berkshire. We work with our clients both locally, in Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire, and throughout the UK.
Why not contact us today to see how we can get you started on your Cyber Essentials journey? Make sure you’re protecting your own company as well as your clients’.