What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed certification scheme, designed to set a strong security baseline and help businesses operate securely online. As a certification standard, Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrate your business’ commitment to cyber security, enhancing your reputation with customers, stakeholders and supply chain partners. Cyber Essentials certification also includes free cyber insurance available to UK companies, if the certification covers the entire organisation (additional conditions apply). Cyber Essentials is also required for many Government and public-sector contracts, making it a key driver of new sales and business growth. Cyber Essentials Plus is an extended version of Cyber Essentials, with additional security controls, that unlocks more public-sector opportunities.

What’s the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?

Both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrate that your organisation is taking cyber security seriously and has the five technical controls in place: access controls, firewalls and routers, malware protection, secure configuration, and software updates. Cyber Essentials is an independently verified self-assessment questionnaire and the goal is to get all questions correct/compliant to obtain a pass. Cyber Essentials Plus is the next step after Cyber Essentials. It can be thought of as an independent verification of everything that was claimed in Cyber Essentials. This extra level of scrutiny means your Cyber Essentials Plus badge will hold more weight with potential customers. Whilst Cyber Essentials Plus is the more expensive of the two, it is held in higher regard and much of the work is done by the Certification Body. If you feel a bit overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, don’t worry – we have a range of packages to help you through the process.

How to get Cyber Essentials certification

Whether you’re starting from scratch with your business security, or you’re looking to renew your Cyber Essentials certification, Bulletproof has you covered. The easiest route to Cyber Essentials certification is with consultant-led compliance support. With remote or on-site assistance, tailored policy documents and free retests, it’s never been easier to get Cyber Essentials certification.