In an era where cyber threats are evolving at an alarming rate, businesses must adapt and fortify their defenses against malicious attacks. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022 revealed a significant increase in phishing and ransomware attacks, emphasizing the urgent need for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously. This is where Cyber Essentials certification becomes crucial.
Understanding Cyber Essentials Scheme
Cyber Essentials is a government-backed Cyber Security Certification Scheme designed to acknowledge organisations actively implementing controls to manage cyber threats and protect against attacks. With two levels—self-assessed certification and the more rigorous Cyber Essentials Plus, it establishes a robust cybersecurity framework.
What are the differences between these two levels:
Cyber Essentials – it’s a self-assessment that 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. Cyber Essentials shows you how to address those basics and prevent the most common attacks.
Cyber EssentialsPlus - has the Cyber Essentials trademark simplicity of approach, and the protections you need to put in place are the same, but for Cyber Essentials Plus, a hands-on technical verification is carried out by a certification body.
The Five Pillars of Cyber Essentials
Certification under Cyber Essentials involves adherence to five key technical controls, these are basic cyber security controls that businesses should put in place to help protect themselves against the most common cyber threats. These controls include:
Firewalls
Secure Configuration
User Access Control
Malware Protection
Patch Management
Why Cyber Essentials Matters
Becoming Cyber Essentials certified empowers organisations to prevent approximately 80% of common cyberattacks. This certification is a tangible demonstration of an organisation's commitment to cybersecurity, instilling confidence in customers, investors, and insurers. It also serves as a proactive measure against malicious cyber threats.
Cyber Essentials provides organisations with clarity on what essential security controls they need to have in place to reduce the risk posed by threats on the internet with low levels of technical capability.
· Comply and win more Government and public sector contracts
· Demonstrates control of your business network security
· Protect against 80% of common cyber attacks
· Protects your business from data theft
· Helps drive business efficiency and cost-saving
· Promote your commitment to cyber security
How to Obtain Cyber Essentials Certification
Our dedicated IFB Cyber Team is ready to guide you through the process. By introducing and reviewing the Cyber Essentials questionnaire, tailored to the five technical controls, we help you identify and address security gaps. We provide support, guidance, and provide help to resolve these and bring you to the certification submission level.
Partner with IFB for Cybersecurity Excellence
Achieving the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications is an independently recognised way for an organisation of any size to build trust and confidence in how it does business. It shows how important an organisation takes cyber resilience for itself and those who they work with and is fast becoming an in-demand qualification for many contracts and tenders.
IFB can support you on your cyber security journey and guide you through the process of obtaining Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus. Contact our Team IFB to discuss your next steps and learn more about Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus schemes: