Building a Cyber Safe future

Why You Need Cyber Essentials

Have you heard of Cyber Essentials certification?

Developed by the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in partnership with IASME, Cyber Essentials is a digital security standard. Its designed to help organisations of all sizes protect themselves from the ever-increasing threat of cyber attacks.

The statistics are shocking. According to a 2023 report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), 72% of small businesses in the UK encountered a cyber attack in the two years between January 2021 and January 2023. The most prevalent attack came from phishing (92%), with one in ten small businesses facing malware attacks. A similar proportion of businesses having had their social media accounts hacked.

These attacks can be devastating, leading to financial losses, data breaches, and reputational damage. This is why Cyber Essentials is essential!

You can find out more about Cyber Essentials in our previous blog, but – at its most basic – it provides a practical framework with five core controls which address the most common cyber threats:

  • Patch Management: Ensuring your software is up-to-date with the latest security patches.
  • Boundary Firewalls: Imagine a castle wall – your firewall acts as a barrier, controlling inbound and outbound network traffic; you can check out our blog, Why Do I Need a Firewall?
  • Secure Configuration: By setting your devices up securely, you will minimise vulnerabilities.
  • Access Control: Just like you wouldn’t give everyone a key to your house, limiting access to your data and systems is essential. To find out more, read our blog, It’s All About the Risk.
  • Malware Protection: Malware includes viruses, spyware, and ransomware—robust protection is critical, as we discussed in this blog post
Arrange a consultation

I’m Ev, the Cyber Advisor and Cyber Essentials Assessor, here at in2secure. Having been in IT for over twenty years, I now support small organisations like yours with their cyber security concerns. The NCSC Cyber Essentials and Cyber Advisor schemes provide clarity and assurance, while my experience makes the work accessible and achievable.

Why do I need a Cyber Advisor?

Why Get Certified? The Benefits of Cyber Essentials Certification

Small organisations deserve access to the same support as much bigger companies—this is where Cyber Essentials comes in. But, it’s also important to point out that Cyber Essentials provides other benefits too: Providing an Enhanced Security Position Implementing Cyber Essentials controls will significantly reduce the likelihood of an attack. Recent figures show that organisations with Cyber Essentials are over 80% less likely to make an insurance claim for a cyber attack. Ensuring Supply Chain Credibility Increasingly, larger businesses are requiring others in their supply chain to have Cyber Essentials certification as a condition of working together. This certification demonstrates your commitment to cybersecurity and provides credibility to reassure both customers and suppliers. Assigning Government Recognition Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification that demonstrates your organisation’s commitment to cyber security best practices. You will also be included on the IASME list of certified organisations, meaning you have access to a new circle of clients with a similar concern for cyber security. You can also display your certificate on your website and email signatures. Insurance Benefits Your certification may result in lower insurance premiums, you can even opt-in to the free cyber insurance provided as part of your certification. Giving Peace of Mind  Knowing you’ve taken concrete steps to protect your data and systems will provide valuable peace of mind.

Addressing Common Concerns: So Why Are You Not Certified?

Despite the risks to small businesses, cybersecurity is often overlooked or avoided. While we believe the benefits are clear, some organisations hesitate to pursue Cyber Essentials certification.
  • Perhaps it’s the complexity, gaining certification can seem daunting. At In2Secure we have the knowledge and experience to guide you through it. If you wish, you can work through the self-assessment element yourself or get support from our qualified assessor, Evelyn Williams.
  • Maybe it’s the cost. While there are costs associated with the certification process, these are typically minimal and are an investment in your business’s future. The costs involved will depend on the size of your organisation, and how much support you need. However much you spend though, it’s important to recognise the value of opening up your business to larger organisations, government contracts and other companies who insist on certification.
Cyber security shouldn’t be a privilege, reserved for big companies. Cyber Essentials certification empowers small businesses and charities to take charge of their digital safety. It’s a manageable first step towards building a robust defence system against cyber threats. To learn more about Cyber Essentials and how it can benefit your organisation, get in touch . We can help you navigate the process and get your business well on its way to a cyber-secure future.

Some Related Posts