Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed scheme that protects businesses against the most common cyber attacks. It prioritises measures that a business should take to guard against these attacks, which are often very simple in nature and require little skill.
Cyber Essentials certification shows customers that you care about their data. You can display your certification on your website and social media. It also helps you win business with organisations that demand it as a condition of tendering.
The Cyber Essentials scheme offers two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Both options require an independent verification by a Cyber Essentials accredited assessor. The assessment involves vulnerability scans and checks whether your organisation has the five security controls in place. You can self-assess to achieve this, or hire a professional cybersecurity company to do it for you.
Business Protection
Cyber Essentials helps to reduce the risk of data breaches and enables businesses to demonstrate their commitment to protecting their customers’ personal information. In addition, it can increase the chances of winning government contracts and other new business opportunities.
The scheme is designed to be easy to use for small businesses. It starts with a simple self-assessment questionnaire that assesses your organisation’s security measures. The answers are reviewed by a Certification Body.
Customer Reputation
Cyber security essentials certification shows customers – and potential customers – that you take the security of their data seriously. It also shows that your business is protected against the most common cyber attacks. By preventing these basic vulnerabilities, you can prevent your business from becoming a target of more sinister cyber criminals.
Achieving the certification requires a self-assessment questionnaire provided by your Certifying Body. You can complete the assessment online, at your own pace. Once you’ve completed the assessment, the certifying body will check it and grant your certificate.
Attract New Customers
This questionnaire will cover five key security controls, such as firewalls and secure configuration. Then, a qualified assessor will verify the information and if successful, you’ll receive a certificate.
It also shows that you take cyber security seriously and is a good way to attract new business. More and more organisations are reviewing their supply chains and looking for third parties that have security initiatives and standards in place. Plus, if you want to bid for government contracts, it’s often a requirement to have a Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certificate. This can open up a whole new market for your business.
Comply With Regulations
Cyber Essentials certification is an important step towards complying with GDPR regulations, which require businesses to take measures to protect personal data. This includes ensuring that employees have the right level of access to information. It also requires that companies use a firewall, which creates a buffer zone between your devices and external networks like the internet, blocking unauthenticated or untrusted connections.
Having a Cyber Essentials certificate can help you attract new customers, suppliers, and business opportunities. In addition, it can help you win government contracts that require you to be certified. You can display the certificate on your website and marketing materials to show that you are committed to protecting your customers and data.
