Cyber Essentials Plus
A government-backed certification that demonstrates your commitment to maintaining a secure company.
Our Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+) service takes care of your compliance end-to-end for you.
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What is Cyber Essentials Plus?
Our Cyber Essentials Plus service is a comprehensive service, providing businesses with expert support in meeting the requirements of the government-backed Cyber Essentials Plus certification. We provide advanced cyber security knowledge and depth of experience at a fraction of the cost of hiring an equivalent team in house.
Our team have a range of experience in implementing Cyber Essentials-compliant controls for a range of SMBs across a diverse spread of industry sectors and has a wealth of knowledge in balancing cyber security requirements with business priorities.
What's Included?
Initial Gap Assessment
We conduct a detailed review of your current security measures, identifying any shortfalls against Cyber Essentials Plus requirements.
Policy Alignment
Our specialists help refine existing policies and procedures, ensuring they reflect best practice and support a robust security culture.
Technical Configuration
We review and test systems such as firewalls, devices and software, confirming they are securely configured to meet Cyber Essentials Plus standards.
Vulnerability Remediation
We run scans to uncover any weaknesses, working with you to prioritise and fix them before the formal audit.
Certification Support
We guide you through the Cyber Essentials Plus assessment process, liaising with certification bodies and ensuring each requirement is met.
Ongoing Advice
We provide continued guidance to keep your business aligned with Cyber Essentials Plus – adapting to changes in technology, threats or operations.
Challenges Addressed by Cyber Essentials Plus
Time Limitations
You need to focus on customer needs, overseeing product development, and strategising for future expansion. This leaves you with little time to dedicate to cyber security and ensuring compliance with certifications.
Lacking Expertise
Cyber security compliance can be highly complex and requires a specialist skillset to know how it applies to specific companies and different business contexts.
Fixing Vulnerabilities
For many businesses, they may already be some way to achieving CE+ certification with their existing controls but they lack the knowledge on how to close the gap for the remainder. How do you actually setup a privileged access control review for critical applications?
Tight Deadlines
The majority of companies who ask for our help have a pressing deadline in mind for achieving CE+ certification. It might be their insurer has requested by a certain date, or it is holding up them signing a big new enterprise level client.
Time Limitations
You need to focus on customer needs, overseeing product development, and strategising for future expansion. This leaves you with little time to dedicate to cyber security and ensuring compliance with certifications.
Lacking Expertise
Cyber security compliance can be highly complex and requires a specialist skillset to know how it applies to specific companies and different business contexts.
Fixing Vulnerabilities
For many businesses, they may already be some way to achieving CE+ certification with their existing controls but they lack the knowledge on how to close the gap for the remainder. How do you actually setup a privileged access control review for critical applications?
Tight Deadlines
The majority of companies who ask for our help have a pressing deadline in mind for achieving CE+ certification. It might be their insurer has requested by a certain date, or it is holding up them signing a big new enterprise level client.
What Our Clients Say
Benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus
Accreditation with Cyber Essentials Plus certification provides organisations with demonstrable proof that they have implemented a robust range of cyber security controls.
Win Bigger Clients
The larger accounts you target, the higher the bar will be during their commercial due diligence processes. Having an accreditation can open up new segments of target markets and enable you to win bigger and bigger clients.
Build a Foundation
Implementing security measures that align with the requirements of Cyber Essentials Plus provides you with a core set of security controls that covers the basics of cyber security.
Competitive Edge
Cyber Essentials Plus is a requirement for an increasing number of procurement frameworks. Outside of the public sector, commercial organisations are increasingly assessing their suppliers to ensure they meet their standards for cyber security and data protection.
Lower Insurance Premiums
The cost of responding to and remediating cyber-attacks has rapidly increased, and insurance premiums have increased correspondingly. Insurers now offer preferential rates to companies that can verify that they have proactively addressed cyber security issues.
Accelerate Go To Market
In many sectors, it has become a core requirement in procurement processes – as such, achieving accreditation can enable you to win additional business and importantly, avoid those lengthy information security questionnaires required during client due diligence processes.
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Elevate your security, accelerate your growth. We take care of cyber security for high-growth companies, at every stage of their journey.
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Case Study: Luxury Travel Company
Client Challenge
A UK-based luxury travel company was seeking to renew their cyber insurance coverage.
Their insurance broker advised that being able to demonstrate a robust set of security controls would have a positive impact on their cyber security premiums.
In addition, their client base, which includes high-net-worth individuals, was seeking additional reassurance that their personal information was being adequately protected by both the company and its supply chain.
Our Approach
To address these challenges, CyPro has deployed a specialised team with expertise in the Cyber Essentials Plus, which included:
- Virtual CISO: Provided strategic oversight and leadership from start to finish.
- Cyber Security Manager: Designing and integrating compliant security policies and controls across the organisation’s processes and different departments.
- Regulations Expert: Provided on-hand support for some of the more thorny compliance issues.
Our approach included:
- Gap Analysis: Conducted across the entire business to evaluate security practices, identify control gaps and current strengths.
- Controls Implementation: Implemented compliant and effective security practices across the organisation which proactively improved cyber security and complied with audit requirements.
- Audit Support: Worked with the client team throughout the audit process in order to efficiently collect and present evidence required by the assessor.
- Ongoing Compliance: We have continued to work with the organisation to maintain compliance, which sped up their re-accreditation process each year.
Value Delivered
Certification Achieved
Obtained Cyber Essentials Plus, reducing insurance premium rises and increasing customer trust.
Released Capacity
We handled the process end-to-end for the CTO meaning his whole team could refocus back on their day jobs.
Rapid Risk Reduction
Greatly reduced security risk, giving board members and investors’ confidence in operational practices.
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Who Needs Cyber Essentials Plus?
Below we outline who benefits most from Cyber Essentials Plus and also, who may not find it as necessary.
- Compliance-Conscious Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs): These businesses often lack the resources to hire a full-time cyber security team but face the same cyber threats as larger enterprises. Cyber Essentials Plus provides these businesses with a cost-effective way to strengthen their security readiness and gain a recognised certification, e.g. a growing healthcare provider processing patient data that needs to meet data protection standards.
- Rapidly Expanding Companies: Businesses experiencing rapid growth, mergers, or acquisitions can benefit from Cyber Essentials Plus to establish a solid cyber security foundation, making it easier to scale securely, e.g. a technology start-up expanding into international markets that needs to navigate local regulatory requirements.
- Highly Targeted Sectors: Industries that are prone to cyber attacks, such as finance, healthcare, and telecommunications, are often held to strict compliance standards. Cyber Essentials Plus helps these businesses implement robust steps to mitigate threats and secure critical information, supporting their compliance with regulatory requirements, e.g. A digital bank handling high volumes of sensitive customer information, requiring compliance with regulations.
- Businesses Adopting Digital Technologies: Companies migrating to the cloud or adopting new digital solutions can leverage Cyber Essentials Plus to ensure a structured approach to security that ensures these systems are set up with strong protections from the start, e.g. A manufacturing company implementing IoT technologies to improve operational efficiency.
- Industries With Strict Compliance Requirements: Businesses that must comply with strict regulatory standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) can use Cyber Essentials Plus to meet these requirements, making it easier to demonstrate compliance during audits, e.g. A US healthcare provider that needs to protect patient data and comply with HIPAA regulations.
Who Doesn’t Need Cyber Essentials Plus?
- Large Enterprises With Established Security Frameworks: Large organisations that have for already invested in a dedicated, skilled in-house cyber security team and a comprehensive security framework may have already exceeded the baseline security requirements that Cyber Essential Plus provides, e.g. a FTSE100 multinational corporation with an in-house, advanced cyber security departmental framework.
- Organisations With Industry-Specific Certifications: Businesses that have specialised cyber security certifications that address their unique risks (e.g., PCI DSS, ISO 27799, AS9100) may not need Cyber Essentials Plus, e.g. A financial institution that must adhere to requirements set by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- Organisations Without Client or Vendor Security Expectations: Businesses that do not need to demonstrate their cyber security capabilities to vendors, clients or partners may not see the benefit of gaining certifications like Cyber Essentials Plus, e.g. a small family-run business that does not interact with data-sensitive clients.
- Organisations Without Business Insurance: Businesses that do not rely on cyber security certifications, like Cyber Essentials Plus, to satisfy insurance providers to secure lower premiums may not benefit from CE+, e.g. a small landscaping business where insurers do not require cyber security accreditations to extend coverage.
Our Approach
At CyPro, we follow a systematic and client-focused approach to ensure that our offering delivers optimal value to our clients.
Mobilisation
We start with a thorough consultation to understand your business objectives, existing security posture, and specific requirements. This helps us tailor our services and approach is aligned with your goals and operational context from the very beginning.
Readiness Assessment
Our Cyber Essentials Plus gap analysis identifies areas of your current environment that require improvement. This includes assessing existing security policies, access controls and network capabilities. We identify strengths and weaknesses which allow us to develop a bespoke remediation plan for you.
Remediation Plan
We assist in preparing necessary documentation, aligned with Cyber Essentials Plus requirements. A technical roadmap is then developed to address the gaps found in the initial assessment. This may include tasks such as updating software, securing network endpoints, and configuring firewalls.
Pre-Audit Testing
We will conduct and internal security review to ensure compliance with Cyber Essentials Plus requirements. A mock audit will be performed to validate that the organisation’s systems, policies and processes align with Cyber Essentials Plus standards, to then further identify any remaining areas for improvement.
Certification Audit
Partnering with an accredited Cyber Essentials Plus body, we work with an external assessor will perform the final audit. The certification body will conduct vulnerability scans, endpoint checks, and review security measures to validate compliance. If any issues are identified, support for re-assessment will be provided.
Risks & Findings Report
Once all the requirements are met, the certification body will issue your Cyber Essentials Plus certificate. A detailed briefing then will explain the certification results, key findings, and any recommendations for ongoing cyber security practices.
Remediation & Monitoring
Any identified weaknesses or shortcomings found during the Cyber Essentials Plus audit are addressed to align with the required standards. This phase involves implementing necessary updates or adjustments to ensure the organisation meets the Cyber Essentials Plus criteria and monitoring each month to ensure compliance going forward.
Secure your business.
Elevate your security, accelerate your growth. We take care of cyber security for high-growth companies, at every stage of their journey.
Get in Touch
Secure your business.
Elevate your security, accelerate your growth. We take care of cyber security for high-growth companies, at every stage of their journey.
Get in TouchYour Team
Jonny Pelter
Jonny is a Founding Partner at CyPro and executive group level CISO who has worked closely with the British intelligence agencies NCSC and GCHQ.
Originating from KPMG and Deloitte, Jonny has a wealth of experience across numerous sectors including technology, critical national infrastructure, financial services, oil & gas, insurance, betting, pharmaceuticals and utilities.
Jonny is a leading cyber security expert in the UK, having featured on national media for his professional commentary such as BBC News, iPlayer, Telegraph and Times Radio.
Additional Consultants
Originating from Deloitte, Ellie brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as a Cyber Security Manager.
She specialises in the field of threat intelligence, enabling clients to proactively identify and respond to threats before they escalate into issues.
Technically adept and highly knowledgeable, Ellie excels at developing robust security strategies tailored to each client’s unique needs.
Known for her warm and collaborative approach, Ellie is a natural motivator and people person, making her a trusted partner in implementing and operating effective security controls.
A graduate in Criminology, Elsie also has an MSc in Crime Science with Cyber Crime from UCL. She brings a solid foundation in cyber security principles and practices.
With a research background in human factors in cyber security, Elsie brings a proactive approach to analysing security landscapes. Highly analytical and committed to supporting clients, she excels at crafting solutions to enhance organisational resilience.
Elsie is proficient in identifying and addressing cyber threats, and committed to staying ahead in the ever-evolving digital security landscape, while her analytical skills, honed through experience and academic studies, enable hrt to extract valuable insights to inform strategic decisions.
Enthusiastic and knowledgeable, Elsie strives to be a catalyst for change in security paradigms, and is dedicated to developing innovative approaches to combat emerging threats.
Anne brings a wealth of expertise in compliance, risk management, and information security. Specialising in the development of ISO-certified management systems, she has successfully led projects in ISO 27001, SOC, and Cyber Essentials certifications.
Known for a strategic approach, Anne is a trusted advisor in optimising security processes and ensuring organizations meet the latest standards and regulatory requirements.
An IT professional with more than several years of experience in IT internal control, Internal Audit, Auditing, IT risk management, compliance, policy implementation and Business Analysis.
A commercially astute, goal orientated and innovative IT & Information Security Risk Manager with over 10 years progressive experience in risk management and a proven track record of designing, developing and implementing Information Security management frameworks across multiple global companies and industries.
Comparison: Cyber Security Audit vs Cyber Essentials Plus
If deciding between a cyber security audit and Cyber Essentials Plus, while both services enhance an organisations security foundation, they cater to different client needs and requirements.
Cyber Essentials Plus
- Formal UK certification to validate that an organisation meets cyber security standards defined by the UK government, conducted by an external auditor from an accredited body.
- Focused Approach: the service focuses on the key areas of certification including firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management.
- Affordable & Structured: the standardised approach of Cyber Essentials Plus makes it ideal for establishing core security practices.
- Who Is This Best For? Organisations seeking to gain a recognised, government endorsed, certification for baseline security and wanting assurance of protections against common cyber threats.
Cyber Security Audit
- A comprehensive review of an organisation’s cyber security profile.
- In-Depth Evaluation: assesses multiple areas such as network security, data handling, risk management and compliance.
- Detailed Analysis: offers a comprehensive analysis, discovering gaps and vulnerabilities. This does not result in formal certification against a specific standard – it is primarily for risk reduction.
- Greater Investment: due to the tailored and detailed nature of an audit, this service is typically a more costly option.
- Who Is This Best For? Organisations with intricate security needs that require highly customised risk assessments based on their specialised compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often does cyber essentials plus need to be renewed?
Cyber Essentials Plus certification must be renewed annually to ensure that organisations continue to meet the required security standards. Cyber threats evolve constantly, and an annual renewal process helps businesses stay ahead of emerging risks.
Renewal involves a reassessment of security controls, ensuring that the organisation maintains compliance with the Cyber Essentials framework. Regular renewal also demonstrates to clients, partners, and regulatory bodies that the business takes cyber security seriously and remains committed to best practices.
- Is cyber essentials plus globally recognised?
Cyber Essentials Plus is a UK-based certification developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
While it is primarily recognised within the UK, it is often regarded internationally as a benchmark for fundamental cyber security best practices. Many global organisations, particularly those working with UK-based partners or government contracts, acknowledge Cyber Essentials Plus as a valuable security standard.
Additionally, achieving Cyber Essentials Plus can provide a strong foundation for businesses looking to comply with broader international security frameworks such as ISO 27001 or NIST.
- How long does it take to achieve cyber essentials plus certification?
The time required to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus certification typically ranges from two to six weeks, depending on the organisation’s current cyber security posture and readiness.
Businesses that already meet the Cyber Essentials requirements and have well-documented security policies may achieve certification more quickly. However, if an organisation has gaps in its cyber security measures, additional time may be needed to implement necessary improvements before undergoing the Cyber Essentials Plus assessment.
Our team works closely with businesses to streamline the certification process, helping them meet the necessary requirements as efficiently as possible.
- What does cyber essentials plus include?
Cyber Essentials Plus involves a more rigorous assessment than the basic Cyber Essentials certification, incorporating hands-on technical testing to validate security measures. The certification process includes:
- Internal vulnerability scans to check system configurations, patching, and endpoint security measures.
- External scans to assess internet-facing systems, such as servers and gateways, ensuring they are properly secured.
- Malware protection tests to evaluate the effectiveness of antivirus solutions and endpoint security tools.
- User access control verification to ensure that only authorised personnel can access critical systems.
- Secure configuration checks to confirm that devices and applications are set up according to best security practices.
By undergoing these tests, organisations gain a higher level of security assurance, demonstrating that their cyber defences are actively monitored and tested by external security experts.
- What is the difference between cyber essentials and cyber essentials plus?
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus serve different levels of assurance.
Cyber Essentials is a self-assessed certification that verifies basic security controls through an online questionnaire. It is ideal for organisations looking to demonstrate fundamental cyber security hygiene but does not involve independent verification.
Cyber Essentials Plus, on the other hand, requires external testing by an accredited certification body. This includes hands-on security testing, vulnerability scans, and an in-depth assessment of cyber security controls, providing a much higher level of confidence in an organisation’s security posture. Businesses that handle sensitive data, work with government contracts, or need stronger security validation often opt for Cyber Essentials Plus to meet higher compliance and risk management standards.
- Does cyber essentials plus certification help with other compliance frameworks?
Yes, achieving Cyber Essentials Plus can assist organisations in meeting other cyber security compliance requirements. While it is not a direct replacement for frameworks such as ISO 27001, GDPR, NIST, or PCI-DSS, it aligns with many of their core security principles. Organisations that achieve Cyber Essentials Plus often find it easier to progress towards more advanced certifications, as they already have many foundational security controls in place.
By obtaining Cyber Essentials Plus, businesses demonstrate a proactive approach to cyber security, which can be beneficial when working with clients, partners, or regulators that require evidence of security best practices.
- Can small businesses benefit from cyber essentials plus?
Absolutely. Small businesses are often prime targets for cyber attacks due to perceived weaker security controls. Cyber Essentials Plus provides small businesses with a cost-effective and structured approach to cyber security, helping them protect against common threats while gaining credibility with clients and partners.
For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), achieving Cyber Essentials Plus can be a competitive advantage, particularly when bidding for contracts that require security assurances. Additionally, Cyber Essentials Plus certification can reduce the risk of financial loss due to cyber incidents, as it ensures that fundamental security measures are actively enforced and tested.
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