For MSPs working with Operators of Essential Services (OES) companies and their supply chains, the UK’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) is the most significant change in the last decade.
MSPs that work with OES companies will see demonstrating CAF alignment quickly become a necessity. In this blog, we explore what the expectations are and how they can simplify and strengthen CAF compliance.
Understanding CAF
Developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS), CAF is designed to help organisations assess and improve their cybersecurity, achieving and demonstrating an appropriate level of resilience to protect their critical services and systems from cyber threats. Version 4.0 of the CAF is introducing several important updates and refinements, including:
News sections on:
- Building a deeper understanding of attacker methods and motivations to inform better cyber risk decisions
- Ensuring that software used in essential services is developed and maintained securely, addressing software supply chain risk
Updated guidance and improvements to:
- Security monitoring and threat hunting capabilities to improve the detection of cyber threats
- Coverage of AI-related cyber risks throughout the framework – reflecting the growing impact of AI on cybersecurity
Once the Bill becomes law, MSPs will have to demonstrate compliance with CAF and be able to show they have:
- Clear governance and risk management in place
- The ability to protect systems and client data against attacks
- Steps in place to detect and respond to cyber threats effectively
- Processes to recover quickly and uphold client trust when incidents occur
CAF vs other frameworks and regulations
CAF builds upon existing standards, but it serves a different purpose. It provides a structured, outcome-driven framework designed for assessing cyber resilience in OES companies and their supporting ecosystems. It’s different to standards like ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials, here’s how:
CAF compared to ISO 27001
Scope – ISO 27001 focuses on establishing an Information Security Management System within an organisation. CAF targets the operational resilience of services to the national infrastructure.
Process – ISO 27001 is process-based and certifiable. CAF is outcome-based, assessing capability and maturity rather than just compliance.
Evidence – ISO certification demonstrates conformity. CAF requires organisations to establish assurance and effectiveness in practice.
CAF compared to Cyber Essentials
Focus – Cyber Essentials is a technical baseline of five key security controls. CAF goes far beyond this, encompassing governance, supply chain assurance, incident response and risk management maturity.
Use cases – Cyber Essentials is a foundation standard often used by SMBs. CAF is designed for essential services and their critical suppliers.
CAF and NIS regulations
The CAF underpins Network and Information Systems (NIS) regulations, which require OES organisations to manage cybersecurity risks effectively. MSPs that support these operators will have to fall within the scope of CAF expectations, demonstrating they are aligned with CAF security practices. Failing to prepare for CAF could put contracts, reputation and client trust at risk.
CAF compliance and the challenges for MSPs
Aligning with the CAF principles is an opportunity and a challenge for MSPs. It will allow them to strengthen client relationships and demonstrate their understanding and commitment to security, but the challenge is navigating new layers of complexity and accountability, such as:
- Indirect regulation - MSPs delivering services to OES companies will be expected to align with CAF.
- Navigating complexity - translating CAF’s 14 principles into existing ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials controls, or other frameworks is time-consuming and complex.
- Evidence management - CAF will require demonstrable, verifiable evidence of control effectiveness and maturity. This is often scattered across multiple systems and teams.
- Supply chain dependency - MSPs must manage their own risk and also ensure the resilience of sub-suppliers and partners.
- Evolving threats - CAF’s emphasis on understanding attacker motivations, AI threats, and proactive detection means compliance cannot be static, and organisations must always be working on improving security to maintain compliance.
- Pressure of client assurance – customers in particular industries are increasingly expecting their service providers to provide evidence of being aligned with key compliance standards - CAF will be one of these.
- Resource constraints – smaller MSPs and organisations may not have dedicated compliance teams or structured frameworks for managing CAF efficiently.
Without the right tools and resources in place, maintaining alignment with CAF can quickly become a significant drain on resources and your team.
How Adoptech supports CAF alignment
Adoptech makes CAF compliance manageable, transparent and scalable. Built to support multiple frameworks, Adoptech automates, streamlines and monitors compliance obligations, automating up to 90% of compliance-related tasks.
Integrating with existing platforms like KnowBe4, CyberSmart, BreathHR and Veremark, Adoptech tracks and alerts on deviations in real-time and around the clock, providing dashboards that show real-time accountability, visibility and audit readiness.
As a platform built to support multiple cybersecurity frameworks, Adoptech allows MSPs to monitor and maintain compliance more efficiently across CAF, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and more. It enables organisations to standardise compliance, reducing the administrative burden, time, and stress of managing it themselves.
Moving forward with CAF alignment
The CAF 4.0 represents a significant change in how the UK is measuring and assuring the resilience of OES companies, and by extension, their service providers. For MSPs, aligning with CAF is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, strengthen client trust and differentiate themselves on security maturity.
Through Adoptech, MSPs can turn complex compliance challenges into structured, efficient processes that enhance resilience and reputation. Typically, Adoptech requires a minimum contract of two frameworks, but with our CAF launch promo, MSPs can take CAF on its own. Adoptech will perform an annual audit for you against the CAF Framework to ensure everything you have in place is compliant with the standard, allowing you access to an Adoptech Assured CAF badge.
Want to find out more about Adoptech and our CAF launch promo? Book a demo here: https://calendly.com/dom-haughton-brigantia
To check if you’re ready for the CAF? Take a readiness checker here: https://msp-caf-readiness.scoreapp.com/
