To help fight against the most advanced cyber attacks, it’s recommended for your business to become cyber essentials certified. The UK government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme offers two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Both certifications aim to help your business protect themselves against common cyber threats but they differ in their scope and the level of assurance they provide. Let’s explore the key differences between these two certifications.
Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials is the basic level of certification. It focuses on implementing five essential security controls to protect against the most common cyber threats. These controls include:
Firewalls: ensuring that all devices connected to the internet have a firewall installed to create a buffer zone between the internal network and external threats.
Secure configuration: configuring devices and software securely by changing default settings and removing unnecessary accounts and services.
User access control: managing user accounts and access rights to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information.
Malware protection: installing and maintaining anti-malware software to detect and prevent malicious software.
Patch management: keeping software and devices up to date with the latest security patches to fix vulnerabilities.
The certification process for Cyber Essentials involves a self-assessment questionnaire, which is reviewed by an external certification body. This level is ideal for organisations that want to demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity and protect themselves against common threats.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials Plus builds on the basic Cyber Essentials certification by adding an independent verification component. While it includes the same five security controls, the key difference lies in the assessment process. For Cyber Essentials Plus, an external certification body conducts a thorough audit and vulnerability scan of the organisation’s systems to verify that the controls are effectively implemented.
This higher level of certification provides greater assurance to customers, partners, and stakeholders that the organisation has robust cybersecurity measures in place. The independent verification process ensures that the security controls are not only in place but also functioning as intended.
The key differences include:
Assessment process: Cyber Essentials involves a self-assessment questionnaire, while Cyber Essentials Plus requires an independent audit and vulnerability scan by an external certification body.
Level of assurance: Cyber Essentials provides a basic level of assurance, whereas Cyber Essentials Plus offers a higher level of confidence through independent verification.
Cost and effort: Cyber Essentials is generally less expensive and requires less effort to achieve compared to Cyber Essentials Plus, which involves a more rigorous assessment process.
Which certification is right for your business?
Choosing between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus depends on your organisation’s needs and resources. If you’re looking for a cost effective way to demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity and protect against common threats, Cyber Essentials may be sufficient.
However, if you require a higher level of assurance and want to provide greater confidence to your customers and partners, Cyber Essentials Plus is the better option.
Both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus play a crucial role in enhancing an organisation’s cybersecurity posture. By understanding the differences and benefits of each certification, you can make an informed decision that best suits your business needs.
Learn more at CSG’s limited-seat Cyber Essentials Event, hosted on Tuesday 13th May at Cardiff City Stadium.
What: an event to highlight the the benefits that Cyber Essentials certification provides your business with lunch and networking with other local businesses
Where: Cardiff City Stadium, the Chairman’s Suite
When: Tuesday 13th May at 10:00am with lunch at 12:30pm
Why: as cyber threats evolve, the frameworks designed to protect them are also adapting. There is no better time than now to prepare yourself for cyber essentials
Who: the CSG team and guest speakers
The cyber essentials certification not only enhances your business security but also builds customer trust, maintains your competitive advantage, and can even reduce your insurance premiums. However, navigating the complexities of Cyber Essentials on your own can be challenging
At our limited-seat event, we will provide you with the latest updates and insights to ensure you are fully prepared to achieve and maintain this valuable accreditation. We will then break for some lunch and networking!
As cyber threats evolve, the frameworks designed to protect against them must also adapt.
The cyber essentials scheme, a key component of the UK’s cybersecurity strategy, is set for significant updates in April 2025. These changes aim to tackle emerging threats, integrate new technologies, and ensure that organisations remain resilient in a world where there are emerging digital pressures and threats.
