Gain your Cyber Essentials Accreditation and Reap the Rewards

As you may already know, Cyber Essentials is a government scheme that helps businesses protect themselves from all forms of cyber-attacks. 

Is a Cyber Essentials Accreditation what businesses need, to combat cyber-crime? The ever-growing threat landscape continues to target UK businesses. As a result, more and more businesses are falling victim to several forms of cyber-attacks. So how can a Cyber Essentials Certification help? What are the other benefits?  

What is Cyber Essentials Accreditation?  

Simply put, the baseline Cyber Essentials accreditations consists of a self-assessment against five basic security controls (firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and patch management) and the most common cyber-attacks businesses experience. After the self-assessment, a qualified assessor verifies the assessment.   Many businesses choose to further their accreditation with Cyber Essentials Plus. Cyber Essentials Plus works differently in the way your business is evaluated. Passing this accreditation involves a physical, technical audit of your systems, testing that the five security controls mentioned above, are effective. This hands-on approach is for those who require a more in-depth audit of the controls, want to work with the MOD, and those who have staff remote working in several locations.   

What are the benefits of gaining a Cyber Essentials Certification?  

There are many benefits to getting Cyber Essentials Accredited. These rewards are not only directly attributed to your businesses security but also provides front facing boosts and advantages.  

Protection Against Cyber-Attacks  

Cyber Essentials Accreditation provides business protection for 80% of the most common cyber-attacks. Currently reviewing, implementing and or updating the five basic security controls mentioned above provides protection for 80% of the most common cyber-threats.  A large majority of the attacks that target businesses are quite basic and easy to deal with. However, without the proper systems and strategy, many will still fall victim and be exploited. With Cyber Essentials, you can rest assured that your business is protected against these straightforward, easy to deal with threats, whilst implementing strong strategies for larger threats. 

Boost Your Reputation & Customer Confidence  

Getting Cyber Essentials Accredited certifies your business as a company who takes cyber security seriously. Being able to show off your accreditations on your website, store and documents will further boost your reputation as a business who is cyber secure. A boosted reputation will no doubt provide further opportunities for new business to be secured.  Not only will new business be easier to obtain but existing customers will be reassured, knowing they’re dealing with a cyber secure business. This is especially important if your business stores and processes sensitive data. A reputation and confidence boost naturally also extends out to vendors and any other potential partners that you may do business with.  

Ensures GDPR Best Practice & Avoid Fines 

By now, GDPR compliance and best practice should be a given. Unfortunately, many have still not taken the required action to ensure best practice. If a business is found to be negligent to GDPR in the event of a security breach, they could be fined up to 4% of their global turnover.  Even if you do fall victim to a security breach, a Cyber Essentials Accreditation will show your compliance to GDPR and that your business did everything to stop and prevent a security breach. This in turn will fall in your favour to avoid receiving a hefty fine from the ICO.  

Reduced Cyber Security Insurance Costs  

As previously alluded to, Cyber Essentials Accreditation shows that you take cyber security seriously and are doing your best to stay cyber secure. Not only is this a good look for customers, prospect customers, vendors and other potential partners.  Cyber Essentials Accreditation can reduce and, in some cases, can provide free Cyber Security insurance for businesses. “You must fit the following criteria to be eligible for free Cyber Insurance: 

• Your organisation must have Cyber Essentials Certification at either the basic or plus level 

• You must be certified with an IASME certification body 

• Your organisation must turnover under £20,000,000 

• Your organisation must be domiciled in the UK” - Cyber Essentials Accreditation provides free Cyber Security Insurance.  

Opportunity to Work with The Government  

Depending on your industry, you may have the opportunity to apply and work with Government contracts. To have the opportunity to work with the Government, it is a requirement to be Cyber Essentials accredited.  This opportunity not only presents the chance to work with the Government but also presents separate awards such as an enhanced reputation for being approved to work with the Government. 

How can I reap the rewards?  

The above mentioned are just some of the many benefits that a Cyber Essentials accreditation can bring. Whilst the process of gaining accreditation can be an extensive one, it is certainly worthwhile.  To begin benefitting from Cyber Essentials, getting accredited is the first step. But where do you start? How can you begin your journey?  Book a free Cyber Essentials Consultation visit with the Sweethaven team to discuss further:

Cyber Essentials Consultation