In today’s digital age, UK businesses face an ever-growing landscape of cyber threats. The importance of robust cyber security measures is undeniable as cyber attacks grow in frequency and sophistication.
Recognising this, the UK government developed the Cyber Essentials scheme as a standardised approach to securing businesses. Cyber Essentials provides a foundation that helps businesses defend against the most common cyber threats. Here’s everything you need to know about Cyber Essentials:
What is Cyber Essentials?
The Cyber Essentials scheme is a UK government-backed certification that helps businesses protect themselves against a broad range of cyber threats. It’s structured around five key security controls that are essential for defending against common attacks. Cyber Essentials is available at two levels:
- Cyber Essentials – A self-assessment certification designed to provide a basic level of assurance by implementing the scheme’s five core controls.
- Cyber Essentials Plus – A more comprehensive certification that includes an external vulnerability assessment by a certification body, adding an extra layer of security verification. To get Cyber Essentials Plus accredited, businesses must first achieve Cyber Essentials certification.
This enables businesses to choose a certification level based on their needs and resources.
Benefits of Cyber Essentials for businesses
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification offers the following advantages:
- Enhanced security – By focusing on the most common cyber threats, Cyber Essentials helps significantly reduce the risk of a cyber attack.
- Customer confidence – Certification reassures customers and partners that your business takes security and data protection seriously, helping to foster trust.
- Regulatory compliance – The scheme aligns with government recommendations, and in some sectors, Cyber Essentials certification is a requirement for suppliers bidding on government contracts.
The five key technical controls in Cyber Essentials
The Cyber Essentials scheme is centred around five core technical controls that form the foundation of a strong cyber security defence:
1. Firewalls
Firewalls create a secure boundary around private networks by blocking unauthorised access. Properly configured firewall rules and the use of boundary firewalls and internet gateways ensure that only trusted users and devices can access the system.
2. Secure configuration
Configuring networks and devices securely reduces vulnerabilities by disabling unnecessary features and limiting the amount of information devices expose to the internet. Regular scans can help identify misconfigurations that might otherwise be exploited.
3. User access control
Access control minimises risks by limiting user permissions to only what is necessary for their role. Admin privileges are assigned sparingly, and role-based access controls are used to enforce consistent security measures.
4. Malware protection
Protection against malicious software, such as viruses and ransomware, is achieved through anti-malware tools or whitelisting, which restricts systems to running approved applications only.
5. Patch management
Software and devices are regularly updated through patching to address vulnerabilities as they are discovered. Using supported and licensed software ensures access to these updates, while outdated applications are either upgraded or removed to maintain security.
These controls collectively establish a strong foundation for protecting businesses against prevalent cyber threats.
Steps to achieve Cyber Essentials certification
1. Prepare for certification
Gather key documentation, including policies surrounding the five technical controls, and an inventory of devices and software in use. You may want to consider working with an external cyber security consultant or managed service provider (MSP) to help you prepare for certification and implement any necessary measures to ensure compliance with the required security controls.
2. Self-assessment questionnaire
Fill out the Cyber Essentials self-assessment questionnaire, ensuring responses are signed off by a senior board member or equivalent. Partnering with a cyber security consultant or MSP can simplify this process, helping to address gaps and improve your chances of passing on the first attempt.
3. Cyber Essentials Plus technical audit
For businesses seeking Cyber Essentials Plus certification, an external technical audit and vulnerability assessment are carried out to validate the effectiveness of your security controls. This step provides an additional layer of assurance beyond self-assessment.
4. Certification
Once all requirements are verified, the certification body issues a Cyber Essentials certificate, which is valid for one year.
Cyber Essentials offers UK businesses a vital framework for securing their digital assets against the most common cyber threats. By following the certification process, businesses can safeguard their data, operations, and reputation in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.
The certification process can be challenging, particularly for businesses lacking resources or extensive technical expertise. Our team of experts aim to make the assessment seamless and effortless for you.
Whether it’s Cyber Essentials Standard or Plus, we can guide you through the assessment process and help you implement any necessary security measures.
If you have any questions about the Cyber Essentials scheme and how you can become certified, you can contact us on 03300 245 447 or email info@techsol.co.uk.
Explore Techsol’s innovative solutions, book your demo today to see how we can enhance your business operations