You keep hearing the term cyber essentials, but what exactly does it mean? Why should your business consider being a part of the scheme? With cyber-attacks becoming ever more common, there is no better time to understand the steps you can take to protect your business from the most basic attacks. Many cyber-attacks are carried out by low skilled individuals. So taking some basic steps can massively reduce the chance of you falling victim to one! Here at The Unite Group as your trusted technology provider we want to best advise our customers on how to protect themselves as well as their customer data. In this blog, we will explain to you the basics of Cyber Essentials. As well as how we can help & guide you through achieving the certification.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed and industry-supported scheme that allows businesses to protect themselves from cyber-attacks. The scheme lays out a clear statement of the basic cybersecurity measures an organisation should have in place to protect themselves from the growing threat of attacks.
Cyber essentials is a foundation level certification. This was created to provide the basic controls an organisations should have in place to reduce the risk of common cyber threats. This first step protects you from 80% of the most basic cyber security breaches.
Upon completion, organisations can then move onto Cyber Essentials Plus. This is the highest level of certification offered in the scheme, so this includes a more rigorous test of an organisations Cyber Security systems. Experts carry out vulnerability tests and ensure organisations are well protected against basic hacking and phishing attacks.
What does the certification process include?
Obtaining The Cyber Essentials certification is a relatively simple process
- Choose The Unite Group as your Provider
- Complete your self-assessment questionnaire and then await its review.
- Once your submission is approved, you will then receive your certificate.
If for any reason you have any issues, Unite will be here to support you through the process.
Who runs Cyber Essentials?
It was developed and is operated by NCSC (the National Cyber Security Centre). It is the UK Government’s answer to a safer internet space for all organisations of all sizes.
Is Cyber Essentials UK only?
Although it was developed by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, it is globally recognised as a certification that enhances an organisations protection against data breaches and leaks. Therfore, organisations with global customers can complete this certification and be confident it will be recognised internationally.
Why should you get Cyber Essentials?
Having certification allows businesses to show you can trust them and take their security seriously when it comes to cyber security. This can open new opportunities as a lot of larger organisations will only work with companies who can demonstrate their cyber security protection measures. Many Government contracts require certification to be considered.
However, the benefits are not only external. Internally the scheme provides a clear picture of your organisations cyber security level. You can feel confident you have taken the necessary steps to protect your businesses. Therefore eliminating some of the risk of your organisation experiencing an attack.
Can you afford not to have certification? Are you ready to protect not only your organisation but the data of your customers by doing the Cyber Essentials certification?
How can we support you through the process?
Here at The Unite Group, we can provide support to you throughout the process. Unite are an authorised certificate issuing body for Cyber Essentials. As a result we can manage the entire process for you from initial audit, remedial works and certificate issue.
Do you want peace of mind that your defences will protect you from a large amount of the most common cyber-attacks? Contact us today and our friendly, knowledgeable team will be happy to explain in more detail the Cyber Essentials certification process or help you take the first steps to achieving your Cyber Essentials Certification!