Cyber Essentials Accreditation

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification scheme that helps organisations protect against the most common cyber threats. It demonstrates to customers, suppliers and stakeholders that you take cyber security seriously. Cost: £300–500 annually. Implementation time: 4–6 weeks.

Why Get Cyber Essentials Certified?

• Government recognition of your cyber security commitment
• Competitive advantage when bidding for government contracts
• Reduced cyber insurance premiums
• Protection against 80% of common cyber attacks
• Improved customer and supplier confidence
• Compliance with many industry standards

The Five Cyber Essentials Controls

• Boundary firewalls and internet gateways
• Secure configuration of systems
• Access control and administrative privilege management
• Malware protection
• Patch management processes

Implementation Steps

1. Initial Assessment — Review your current security posture against the 5 Cyber Essentials controls (1 week)
2. Gap Analysis — Identify areas where your systems don't meet Cyber Essentials requirements (1 week)
3. System Hardening — Implement necessary security controls and configurations (2–3 weeks)
4. Self-Assessment — Complete the Cyber Essentials self-assessment questionnaire (1 week)
5. Certification — Submit assessment and receive certification (1 week)

Ready to Get Certified?

Altitude IT can guide your business through the Cyber Essentials certification process — from initial assessment and gap analysis through to successful certification.