Cyber Essentials Certification

Developing your approach to cyber safety

The Cyber Essentials scheme is designed to offer your business the proper protection against common cyber attacks.

Your customers, partners or authority bodies may require you to have cyber security certification in place, so not doing so may limit your ability to attract new business.

If you need support in gaining Cyber Essentials Certification, the IT Allies can help.

We’re specialists when it comes to this important accreditation, and have helped many businesses just like yours to become Cyber Essentials safe in an efficient, stress-free way.

Your journey to Cyber Essentials nirvana.

Step 1 – the why?

Due to increasing cyber threats five things are happening:

1. Government Contracts - Organisations are securing their supply chains and are requiring higher standards of cyber security to protect their data, secure their systems, and reduce risk. Often to be able to become a supplier, there is a minimum requirement to have Cyber Essentials certification.

2. Regulatory Requirements - You are in a highly regulated sector that requires Cyber Essentials to be part of a trade body/membership.

3. Insurance Policies - Insurance companies are becoming more demanding when it comes to assessing your cyber risk, often leading to detailed evaluations and potentially reduced premiums.

4. Security Breaches - A security breach can prompt questions about your current setup and what risks there are to the functioning of the business.

5. Competitive Advantage - Gaining certification can demonstrate to customers that you care about their data and safety, giving you a marketing edge.

Who is Cyber Essentials for?

Cyber Essentials can help every organisation - from micro businesses to large corporations - guard against the most common cyber attacks. If you have digital assets or store any data, implementing Cyber Essentials controls can help secure it.

Step 2 – the which?

We offer two certification levels:

• Cyber Essentials: A combination of self-assessment and independent audit.
• Cyber Essentials Plus: The same protections, but with more rigorous, independent technical testing.

Step 3 – the how?

• IT Allies sets up your account.
• We assist you in completing all forms to establish a baseline.
• Guidance on required remediation and security changes is provided, which includes system upgrades and policy updates.
• An independent audit of the data submitted will be carried out.
• A certificate is produced upon passing the audit, and you are entered in a central government register.
• For Plus certification, additional rigorous technical testing occurs to ensure compliance.

Step 4 – the price?

Step 5 - Begin your journey

Extra information about Cyber Essentials:

• NHS Guidance on Cyber, information governance and data protection guidance
• The Law Society Cyber security guidance
• The ICAEW Cyber security guidance
• Gov.uk Overview of Cyber Essentials