CYBER ESSENTIALS FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES
In the fast-paced world of UK small business, your reputation and your data are your most valuable assets. Whether you are a consultancy, a growing e-commerce business, or a specialist service provider, your digital footprint is a prime target for cyber attacks. Cyber Essentials makes security achievable — practical protection that fits a small business budget and timeline.
WHY CYBER ESSENTIALS MATTERS FOR YOUR SECTOR
WIN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Cyber Essentials is mandatory for UK central government contracts involving personal data. Many councils and large enterprises now require it from suppliers too. Certification opens commercial doors.
TRANSPARENT PRICING
Fixed prices based on organisation size, with no hidden fees. Free cyber insurance up to £25,000 is included automatically for eligible UK organisations. View pricing →
PROTECT AGAINST 80% OF ATTACKS
The five Cyber Essentials controls protect against the vast majority of common cyber attacks — phishing, malware, ransomware, and credential theft — that target UK small businesses every day.
UK-BASED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT
Our UK-based team guides you through every step in plain English. No confusing jargon, no unnecessary add-ons — just clear, straightforward support to get you certified.
QUICK AND REMOTE
Cyber Essentials is conducted entirely remotely, with minimal disruption to your business. For well-prepared organisations, the self-assessment can be completed in a matter of days.
BUILD CLIENT CONFIDENCE
Displaying your Cyber Essentials badge signals to clients and partners that you take data security seriously. It is increasingly expected in tender submissions and supplier questionnaires.
WHAT CYBER ESSENTIALS COVERS
Cyber Essentials is the UK government's recognised minimum standard of cyber security. Certification proves your business has the five core technical controls in place to protect against the vast majority of common cyber attacks — verified by an approved assessor, not just a self-declaration.
Control 1
FIREWALLS
Establish a secure boundary between your internal networks and the internet, blocking unauthorised access to your systems.
Control 2
SECURE CONFIGURATION
Ensure all devices and software are set up securely — removing unnecessary features, default credentials, and open services that attackers exploit.
Control 3
USER ACCESS CONTROL
Limit administrative privileges and ensure only the right people have access to sensitive systems and data — reducing the impact of compromised accounts.
Control 4
MALWARE PROTECTION
Use antivirus and endpoint protection to detect and block malicious software before it can cause damage to your business.
Control 5
PATCH MANAGEMENT
Keep all software, operating systems, and firmware up to date. Unpatched systems are the most common entry point for attackers targeting small businesses.
Organisations with Cyber Essentials certification are 92% less likely to make a cyber insurance claim — a clear measure of how effectively the five controls reduce real-world risk for small businesses.
Tier 1
CYBER ESSENTIALS
A self-assessment questionnaire completed by your organisation and signed off by a senior responsible officer. Your responses are reviewed and verified by an external approved assessor. Sufficient for most small businesses and government contract requirements.
- ✓Self-assessment questionnaire
- ✓Senior officer sign-off
- ✓External assessor review & verification
- ✓Free £25k cyber insurance (eligible orgs)
Tier 2
CYBER ESSENTIALS PLUS
Adds an independent, hands-on technical audit. An approved assessor actively tests your devices and systems to verify the five controls are working in practice — not just documented on a form. Required for some higher-value or more sensitive contracts.
- ✓Everything in Cyber Essentials
- ✓Independent technical audit
- ✓Live device and system testing
- ✓Higher assurance for enterprise & MOD supply chains
HOW WE WORK WITH YOU
We guide you through every step of the Cyber Essentials process — from initial scoping through to your certificate. Our approach is built around your sector's specific requirements, working around your operational constraints.
What's Included
- Initial scoping call to understand your environment
- Guided submission support against Cyber Essentials requirements
- Guidance on addressing any gaps identified
- Support through the self-assessment questionnaire
- IASME assessor review and certification
- Certificate, digital badge, and NCSC register listing
COMMON QUESTIONS
GET YOUR SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFIED TODAY
Talk to our UK-based team. Straightforward Cyber Essentials certification built around small business needs.