What is the Cyber Essentials certification?
Cyber Essentials, launched in 2014, aims to help organisations of all sizes defend themselves against the most common cyber threats and reduce their online vulnerability. The UK Government, as part of its commitment to making the UK the safest place in the world to start and grow a business, has set out ambitious policies to protect the UK in cyberspace.
There are two levels of the Cyber Essentials certification
Cyber Essentials
This gives you protection against a wide variety of the most common cyber-attacks. This is important because vulnerability to basic attacks can mark you out as a target for more in-depth unwanted attention from cyber criminals.
Certification gives you peace of mind that your defences will protect against the most common cyber-attacks because these attackers are looking for targets who do not have the certification’s technical controls in place.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Plus still has the Essentials trademark simplicity of approach, and the protections you need to put in place are the same, but it also includes a hands-on technical verification.
Why should you get certified?
- Reassure customers that you are working to secure your IT against cyber-attacks.
- Attract new business with the promise that you have cyber security measures in place.
- You have a clear picture of your organisation’s cyber security level.
- Some Government contracts require the certification.
How CyberAdvisor helps you get certified
CyberAdvisor, RedDoor’s subsidiary business, helps SMEs across London and the UK simplify the Cyber Essentials certification process. We offer tailored managed detection and response (MDR) solutions, integrate cyber resilience, ensure compliance and enhance a competitive advantage:
- Managed cyber essential applications – we ensure that your digital infrastructure adheres to the highest security standards by implementing the following applications: asset tag, ransomware, Webroot anti-virus, automated updates, DNS filtering, SaaS defence and SaaS backup, device monitoring, remote weekly site checks, managed Soc and EDR, dark web domain check reports, penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
- Cyber security training – arm your team with the knowledge and skills needed to outwit cyber threats through our cyber security training programs, empowering your workforce to be the first line of defence.
- Ongoing monthly assistance – stay one step ahead of cyber threats with CyberAdvisor’s monthly assistance, offering continuous training, remote monitoring of system updates and proactive antivirus management to always keep your business resilient and secure.
Pricing
As set by the Government, the certification pricelist (which adopts the internationally recognised definition for micro, small, medium and large enterprises) is as follows:
- Micro organisations (0-9 employees) – £300 +VAT
- Small organisations (10-49 employees) – £400 +VAT
- Medium organisations (50-249 employees) – £450 +VAT
- Large organisations (250+ employees) – £500 +VAT
It’s important to note that these fees are set to increase in April 2024, but if you register before then, you will still be eligible to pay these current fees.
There is also the optional management fee of £495 + VAT whereby CyberAdvisor manages the entire Cyber Essentials certification process for you.
What is the Government’s latest update?
The National Cyber Security Centre has reported that the appetite for the Cyber Essentials scheme continues to grow. As of November 2023, the number of Cyber Essentials certificates awarded in the past year has increased by 21% to 28,399, while the total number of Cyber Essentials Plus certificates awarded has increased by 55% to 9,037.
In total, 141,712 Essentials certificates have been awarded since the scheme began. The scheme is proving its efficacy too, with data suggesting that 80% fewer cyber insurance claims are made when Essentials is in place.
The top three reasons given for completing the certification include 35% to improve security generally, 22% as a requirement for government contracts and 15% as a requirement for commercial contracts.
As awareness about the certification increases, as well as a more tailored and refined offering, we will continue to update you on its progress.
Contact us to see how we can help you become Cyber Essentials certified.
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