In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes are increasingly reliant on technology to operate and grow. However, with increased connectivity comes increased risk of cyberattacks, which can be devastating to businesses that are not adequately prepared. According to the UK government, 46% of all UK businesses experienced a cyberattack in 2021, with an average cost of £8,460 per attack. The good news is that businesses can take steps to protect themselves from cyberattacks by implementing basic cybersecurity measures, such as those provided by Cyber Essentials certification.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme that provides a set of baseline technical controls to help businesses protect themselves against the most common cyberattacks. The scheme was launched in 2014 and has since been adopted by thousands of businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations. The Cyber Essentials scheme is designed to be accessible and affordable for businesses, with certification costing as little as £300.
Why is Cyber Essentials important?
Cyberattacks can have serious consequences for businesses, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage. By obtaining Cyber Essentials certification, businesses can demonstrate to customers, suppliers, and investors that they take cybersecurity seriously and have implemented basic security controls to protect their systems and data. In addition, some public sector contracts require Cyber Essentials certification as a prerequisite, so businesses that want to bid for these contracts need to be certified.
What does Cyber Essentials cover?
The Cyber Essentials scheme covers five key areas of cybersecurity, which are:
- Boundary firewalls and internet gateways: This covers measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems to protect against external threats.
- Secure configuration: This covers measures such as ensuring that all software is up to date and using secure passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
- Access control: This covers measures such as ensuring that users have the appropriate access to systems and data and using two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
- Malware protection: This covers measures such as using antivirus software and email filters to prevent malware infections.
- Patch management: This covers measures such as ensuring that all software is up to date with the latest security patches to prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.
How to get certified?
Getting Cyber Essentials certified is a straightforward process that involves the following steps:
- Choose a certification body: There are several certification bodies approved by the UK government that can certify your business for Cyber Essentials. These bodies can provide guidance and support to help you prepare for certification.
- Complete a self-assessment questionnaire: The Cyber Essentials scheme provides a self-assessment questionnaire that you can use to assess your business’s compliance with the scheme’s requirements. The questionnaire covers the five key areas of cybersecurity mentioned above.
- Submit your questionnaire for review: Once you have completed the self-assessment questionnaire, you can submit it to your chosen certification body for review. The certification body will assess your responses and provide feedback on any areas that need improvement.
- Obtain certification: If your business meets the requirements of the Cyber Essentials scheme, your certification body will issue you with a certificate that is valid for 12 months. You can then use this certificate to demonstrate your compliance with the scheme’s requirements to customers, suppliers, and investors.
Cyber Essentials vs. Cyber Essentials Plus
In addition to the basic Cyber Essentials certification, there is also a more advanced certification called Cyber Essentials Plus. Cyber Essentials Plus involves an additional step of independent verification and testing of your business’s cybersecurity measures by an accredited assessor. This provides a higher level of assurance that your business’s cybersecurity measures are effective.
Cyber Essentials Plus involves an on-site assessment where an accredited assessor will test your business’s cybersecurity measures to verify that they are working as intended. This includes vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and simulated attacks to identify any weaknesses in your systems and processes. Cyber Essentials Plus certification provides a higher level of assurance to customers, suppliers, and investors that your business has taken additional measures to protect against cyberattacks.
Is Cyber Essentials certification right for your business?
Cyber Essentials certification is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to large corporations. If your business holds sensitive data, such as personal information or financial data, or if you provide critical services, such as healthcare or banking, then Cyber Essentials certification is particularly important. However, even if your business does not hold sensitive data, implementing basic cybersecurity measures is still important to protect your systems and data from cyberattacks.
Benefits of Cyber Essentials certification
The benefits of Cyber Essentials certification include:
- Reduced risk of cyberattacks: By implementing basic cybersecurity measures, you can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect your business from financial losses and reputational damage.
- Demonstrated commitment to cybersecurity: Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates to customers, suppliers, and investors that you take cybersecurity seriously and have implemented basic security controls to protect your systems and data.
- Prerequisite for public sector contracts: Some public sector contracts require Cyber Essentials certification, so obtaining certification can open up new business opportunities.
- Compliance with data protection regulations: By implementing basic cybersecurity measures, you can ensure that your business is compliant with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Peace of mind: Cyber Essentials certification provides peace of mind that your business has taken basic cybersecurity measures to protect against the most common cyberattacks.
The Takeaway
In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is a critical issue for businesses of all sizes. Cyber Essentials certification provides a cost-effective way for businesses to implement basic cybersecurity measures to protect their systems and data from the most common cyberattacks. By obtaining Cyber Essentials certification, businesses can demonstrate to customers, suppliers, and investors that they take cybersecurity seriously and have implemented basic security controls to protect their systems and data. If you are interested in Cyber Essentials certification, you can find more information on the UK government’s website or by contacting an accredited certification body.
