Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed scheme that helps protect businesses of all sizes from the most common cyber attacks. These attacks use widely available tools and require relatively little skill.
Many large organisations and MoD projects require that suppliers have a Cyber Essentials certification, and it is a good first step for most other businesses.
Demonstrate A Commitment To Cyber Security
Whether you are an SME or a larger organisation, demonstrating your commitment to cyber security can help build customer confidence. Achieving a cyber essentials certification shows that you are protecting your customers data from common threats and that you take security seriously.
Once you have passed the certification process, you can display the logo on your website. The certification can also help you win business contracts as more organisations look for third parties that have the scheme in place.
Increase Customer Confidence
With high-profile data breaches causing major concern across the globe, customers want to be sure that they are dealing with a business that takes cyber security seriously. Having a cyber essentials certification provides them with the reassurance they need to buy from you.
Achieving a cyber essentials certificate is a good starting point to improve your internal processes, enabling you to move towards becoming a cyber essentials plus certified organisation. This can be especially beneficial for SMEs with limited resources and expertise to implement complex security solutions.
Boost Productivity
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification can boost productivity in a number of ways. For one, it demonstrates to your clients that you take their data and security seriously. Additionally, it helps you avoid GDPR non-compliance fines and reduce the risk of a costly cyber attack.
The process to become certified is relatively straightforward. The first step is completing the self-assessment questionnaire provided by the certification body. This is designed to be light-weight and easy to complete.
Boost Sales
With high-profile cyber attacks in the news, customers and potential clients are rightly concerned about the security of their data. Achieving a cyber essentials certification shows them that you take security seriously and have measures in place to protect their information.
This certification is backed by the National Cyber Security Centre and is now often a requirement for businesses bidding for contracts with government departments. It also increases your chances of winning new business.
Reduce Costs
Cyber essentials is a UK Government-backed scheme designed to help organisations lower their risk from common cyber-attacks. It was developed specifically for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with limited IT and cybersecurity expertise and resources.
It consists of five easy-to-implement security controls that can protect businesses from around 80% of the most common cyber-attacks – including those that target passwords and other sensitive information. These controls are backed by the National Cyber Security Centre and can be delivered quickly, efficiently, and at an affordable cost.
