Do you know your Cyber Essentials?

10th September 2019

If you work in any industry where IT is used, you’ll know all about the importance of cyber security, and the dangers that businesses face if they fail to prepare themselves against common online threats.

Modern business isn’t just about trusting people - it’s about trusting the technology they use as well. If you’re going to be sharing your data with business partners, you need to know that it will be safe in their hands. But how do you know who you can trust?

The answer is Cyber Essentials, the Government-backed, industry-supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common online threats, and to prove to potential business partners that they are equipped to do so.

The Government worked with the Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises (IASME) consortium and the Information Security Forum (ISF) to develop Cyber Essentials. Launched on 5 June 2014, it provides a set of basic technical controls to help organisations of all sizes and sectors protect themselves online. It has become the gold standard for information security in the United Kingdom.

Since 1 October 2014, the Government requires all suppliers bidding for contracts involving the handling of certain sensitive and personal information to be certified against the Cyber Essentials scheme.

The benefits of Cyber Essentials to your business are numerous. Certification gives you peace of mind that your defences will protect against the vast majority of common cyber attacks, while simultaneously reassuring your customers that you take cyber security, and the protection of their personal data, seriously.

Businesses with Cyber Essentials in place are also more likely to attract new business with the promise that they cyber security measures in place, and it may open new opportunities to your business if you are thinking of bidding for Government contracts involving the handling of sensitive and personal information.

Cyber Essentials Certification is imperative for any organisation wanting to survive and thrive in the modern business world.

If your business isn’t certified yet, Digital Armour can help you to take the first steps on your Cyber Essentials journey.

As a Cyber Essentials PLUS certified company, we can help your business prepare for assessment by identifying potential problem areas and supplying or configuring any software and hardware you require.

We are also a Cyber Essentials certification body, licensed to undertake assessments and confer Cyber Essentials credentials on your business. We can re-certify clients who have gained their Cyber Essentials through us in the past, or if you have achieved the accreditation with another company. So if your business needs Cyber Essentials, look no further than Digital Armour.

Read our Cyber Essentials case study to find out how we helped a medium-sized business achieve certification.