Having Security Controls Isn’t Cyber Essentials Compliance.
We help organisations assess their Cyber Essentials requirements, identify weaknesses across devices, accounts, software and network security, implement the required controls, and prepare for certification — so your organisation can demonstrate a stronger baseline of cyber security, not just claim that the basics are covered.
Does Cyber Essentials apply to you?
Government-endorsed and increasingly contractually required across UK procurement. A few quick questions, one clear answer.
Which best describes your business?
- Sector—
- Procurement trigger—
- Target tier—
- Existing controls—
- Certification status—
Most UK businesses don’t lose government contracts because their security is bad. They lose them because they never got Cyber Essentials certified.
Cyber Essentials is government-endorsed and increasingly contractually required — not a legal mandate for every business, but a hard requirement for a growing share of UK procurement.
Most UK businesses already have some basic security controls in place. The gap is knowing whether all five Cyber Essentials controls are consistently implemented, correctly evidenced and ready to withstand the certification process. That’s where we help: turning Cyber Essentials requirements into a practical security baseline your organisation can actually maintain and certify against.
A Structured Approach to Cyber Essentials Readiness.
We begin by assessing your current controls against the five Cyber Essentials technical requirements, identifying gaps, and prioritizing remediation. From boundary firewalls to patch management, we help you build an environment that is organized, defensible, and ready for certification.
Everything You Need for Cyber Essentials Readiness.
Every engagement produces practical, usable deliverables mapped to Cyber Essentials requirements — from technical control reviews and security baselines to self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus preparation and annual recertification.
Cyber Essentials Readiness Assessment
Current security controls assessed against Cyber Essentials requirements to identify gaps before certification.
Boundary Firewall Configuration Review
Internet-facing firewall and boundary controls reviewed to identify unnecessary exposure, weak configurations and control gaps.
Secure Configuration Baseline
Devices, operating systems and applications reviewed against secure configuration requirements and hardened where gaps are identified.
Access Control & User Account Management
User accounts, administrative privileges, authentication and access practices reviewed against Cyber Essentials requirements.
Malware Protection Implementation
Malware protection controls reviewed and strengthened across supported devices to reduce the risk of malicious software.
Patch Management Program
Operating systems, applications and supported software reviewed for security updates, patching practices and remediation timelines.
Self-Assessment Questionnaire Support
Practical support completing the standard Cyber Essentials self-assessment and addressing gaps identified through the questionnaire.
Cyber Essentials Plus Audit Preparation
Technical remediation and audit preparation for the externally verified Cyber Essentials Plus certification tier.
Annual Recertification Support
Ongoing readiness support to address control changes, prepare for annual reassessment and keep Cyber Essentials certification current.
Security work that shows up in the numbers.
Every engagement is measured, not just delivered.
The Right Cyber Essentials Partner Makes All the Difference.
| Criteria |
// Recommended
BPDoxS
|
// In-house In-house team | // Vendor Typical vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber Essentials Expertise |
Practical expertise across Cyber Essentials requirements, technical controls, certification preparation and remediation
|
Strong knowledge of the organisation's own environment, but certification-specific expertise may depend on available internal resources
|
Specialist cyber security providers may offer strong Cyber Essentials knowledge where certification support is part of their core service
|
| Five Technical Controls |
Assesses firewall, secure configuration, access control, malware protection and patch management against the certification requirements
|
Direct control over internal systems makes technical remediation highly manageable once gaps are identified
|
Can implement individual controls, but coverage depends on the technologies and services included in the engagement
|
| Certification Readiness |
Prepares the organisation against the certification requirements, identifies gaps and supports remediation before assessment
|
Internal teams may understand their environment well but can lack independent certification-readiness experience
|
Experienced certification-support providers can prepare organisations effectively within their defined scope
|
| Technical Remediation |
Connects assessment findings directly to practical remediation across infrastructure, endpoints, accounts and security controls
|
Strongest ability to make internal changes, but remediation competes with existing operational priorities and resources
|
Can implement technical fixes where the required systems and responsibilities fall within the vendor's service scope
|
| Cyber Essentials Plus Preparation |
Prepares systems and evidence for the externally verified Cyber Essentials Plus assessment and addresses technical weaknesses beforehand
|
Internal teams can prepare effectively when they have sufficient technical knowledge and time to support the assessment
|
A typical IT vendor may maintain systems but may not provide dedicated preparation for the independent Cyber Essentials Plus assessment
|
| Annual Recertification Readiness |
Maintains ongoing readiness by reviewing control changes, addressing new gaps and preparing the organisation for annual recertification
|
Can own recurring readiness internally, provided responsibility, expertise and time remain consistently allocated
|
Recurring support is possible, but a typical vendor may focus on maintaining its own services rather than the organisation's complete certification posture
|
Independently recognized.
Rated by clients on Clutch · GoodFirms · Sortlist · DesignRush · RightFirms
Questions Worth Asking.
Everything you need to know before becoming Cyber Essentials-ready with confidence.
Cyber Essentials is not a legal requirement for every UK business, but it can become a contractual or procurement requirement, particularly when supplying UK government organisations or meeting specific customer requirements. Even where certification is voluntary, it can provide a recognised baseline for protecting internet-connected systems. We assess your procurement requirements, customer expectations and current environment to determine whether Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus is the right target.
Cyber Essentials focuses on five core technical control areas: firewalls, secure configuration, security update management, user access control and malware protection. These controls need to be applied consistently across the systems and devices within your certification scope. We review how each control is currently implemented, identify weaknesses and help bring the environment into alignment before you complete the assessment.
Cyber Essentials is based on a self-assessment against the scheme's requirements, while Cyber Essentials Plus includes an additional independent technical assessment of your systems. Plus therefore provides stronger external assurance that the required controls are actually implemented. Some customers or procurement opportunities may specifically require Cyber Essentials Plus, so we help you determine which certification level matches your business and contractual requirements.
Not necessarily. Cyber Essentials focuses on whether the required security controls are effectively implemented, not whether you use a particular security product or vendor. Your existing firewalls, endpoint protection, identity controls, patching tools and device-management platforms may already provide much of what is required. We assess your current technology first, identify the actual gaps and recommend targeted changes rather than replacing tools unnecessarily.
Cyber Essentials certification is valid for 12 months, so organisations need to recertify annually if they want to maintain current certification. Your technology, users and security environment can also change during that period, which is why treating certification as a recurring readiness process is more effective than preparing only when renewal is due. We help maintain readiness and prepare your organisation for each annual assessment.
For standard Cyber Essentials, certification is based on completing the required self-assessment and meeting the scheme requirements, subject to the certification body's assessment process. Cyber Essentials Plus goes further by requiring independent technical verification. Completing a questionnaire without first validating your actual environment can expose gaps that lead to failure or remediation work later. We help assess the technical environment first, address gaps and prepare the information needed for the applicable certification route.
Know where your security stands. Know what needs to change.
Start with a practical assessment of your Cyber Essentials requirements, technical controls and current security environment — then get a clear roadmap to close gaps, prepare for certification and maintain your readiness for annual recertification.
