How can businesses benefit from the Cyber Essentials Certification?

The Cyber Essentials certifications are a government backed scheme to help businesses protect themselves against the most common types of cyber security threats. Based on a framework of five technical controls, the Cyber Essentials scheme advises businesses on what they need to do to guard themselves from cyber threats.

The five Cyber Essentials technical controls include:

• Boundary firewalls and internet gateways

Businesses will need a firewall in place to protect internet-connected devices.

• Secure configuration

Implement secure configurations to stop any unauthorised access to business data.

• Access control

Minimise the possibility of unauthorised access and control which team members can see certain information.

• Malware protection

Guard vital data against viruses, malware, and other cyber security threats.

• Patch management

Consistently update business devices to identify and resolve potential vulnerabilities.

There are many reasons businesses should consider getting certified with Cyber Essentials.

• Protect your business

By implementing the measures within the Cyber Essentials scheme, businesses significantly reduce the risks of a cyber breach. With robust security software in place, potential attacks will either be deterred completely or detected earlier, minimising damage.

• Stakeholder trust

Being awarded with a Cyber Essentials certification will earn your business greater trust from customers, suppliers, and prospective clients, as it demonstrates your commitment to keeping their data secure.

• Differentiate your business

Gaining a Cyber Essentials accreditation gives your business an edge against competition. As not all organisations follow cyber security best practices, knowing your business does its best to keep customer information safe, can help you win more clients and retain existing ones.

• Improve efficiency

By complying with the Cyber Essentials standards, your business will have a much better overview of your cyber security defences. By adopting best practices, your business can more proactively uncover ineffective data and potential vulnerabilities, providing you with the opportunity to increase efficiencies.

• Apply for government tenders

Cyber Essentials has been a requirement of applying for many public sector contracts since 2014. In addition, the UK government has mandated that all of its suppliers have to be compliant with Cyber Essentials for contracts that include the handling of personal or sensitive information.