What is Cyber Essentials?

The government’s Cyber Essentials scheme ensures basic cyber-security measures are in place, preventing approximately 80% of cyber attacks. The scheme is based on 5 controls and ensures that most vulnerabilities are secured.

Why just 5 controls?

The 5 specific controls give an organisation a high-level of cyber security without an enterprise-level cost.

• 5 basic controls provide a simplified framework, unlike ISO27001
• Despite its simplicity, Cyber Essentials prevents or mitigates as much as 99.3% of attacks (University of Lancaster study)

Times are changing, attacks are changing

• Cyber attacks are evolving constantly
• Traditional endpoint security is not enough
• Cyber Essentials gives organisations a layered approach to security

Benefits of Cyber Essentials

Cyber Essentials helps prevent the majority of cyber attacks. Even a simple virus or piece of malware could result in the loss of company and client data, disrupt cash flow, and waste time. Never mind the reputational damage a data breach can cause. Loss of data could also breach the Data Protection Act and lead to fines or prosecution.

Since October 2014, it has been mandatory to have a Cyber Essentials certification if you have any public sector or local authority contracts. Holding a Cyber Essentials badge also enables you to bid for these contracts.

Cyber Essentials covers the technical baseline for devices for GDPR, PCI-DSS, HIPPA, ISO27001 and others.