FAQ’s

Cyber Security FAQ

Cyber criminals don’t just target large corporations – more often they target smaller businesses, exploiting any weaknesses in IT security, infrastructure and software.
Why Should we get Cyber Essentials Certified?
  • According to the UK government, achieving Cyber Essentials means your organization is protected from approximately 80% of cyber-attacks.
  • Cyber Essentials certifications demonstrate that you are committed to cyber security and data protection to customers and stakeholders.
  • Improves your organisation’s reputation and increases your chance of securing new business by showing you have robust cyber security measures in place.
Key Benefits of Cyber Essentials Certification?

Protects your Business against the majority of common cyberattacks and demonstrates to stakeholders your commitment to keeping their data secure and your business operational. This can increase business retention and attract new business. Increases the level of security of your systems and data, and puts processes in place to ensure this level continues – if not improves year on year. This helps to drive business efficiencies which in turn improves productivity through streamlined processes, reducing operational costs. Allows you to work on UK government contracts that involve the handling of personal and sensitive information. Reduces your insurance premiums by being able to prove your Business has increased its resilience to cyber threats.

Should I choose cyber essentials or cyber essentials plus?

This depends on the needs of your organisation, and also why you are putting it in place. For example, if you are looking to work with the public sector on government contracts then they will ask for Cyber Essentials as a minimum. If you want to demonstrate that your organisation is compliant with cybersecurity and takes data protection seriously, then you may also want to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification.

Where can I get details on the full requirements of the cyber...?

Further details on Cyber Essentials and the Cyber Essentials Plus scheme can be found at the  National Cyber Security Centre website.

Can I get the self-assessment questions before I pay for an assessment?

Yes, you can download a copy from the IASME website here, and further guidance is available from the National Cyber Security Centre here.

How is the Cyber Essentials assessment verified?

Once you’ve submitted and signed off your assessment a qualified assessor will then evaluate the responses against the criteria. If you meet the FIVE core requirements, you will pass and receive certification.

If we fail, will we get feedback about why we failed?

Yes, you’ll get feedback, we will supply a report with the answers you gave along with the assessor feedback. This will help you improve your security so you can achieve certification in the future.