Why the Cyber Essentials certification Is crucial for Your Business.

The consequences of Cyber-attacks on small businesses: 

Cyber-attacks don’t just affect large corporations.  

Small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly being targeted, often due to limited resources and security awareness.  

As a result the consequences of a Cyber-attack can be serious, including financial loss, disruption of operations and damage to reputation.  

Many small businesses also suffer long-term reputational harm, making it harder to win new clients or retain existing ones. 

A 2023 article by TechRound (https://techround.co.uk/news/60-of-smes-that-suffer-a-cyber-attack-go-out-of-business-within-six-m

onths/) revealed globally that 60% of small businesses close within six months of experiencing a serious cyber-attack.  

Cyber Essentials offers a straightforward way to protect your organisation and demonstrates strong Cyber Security compliance towards clients and other businesses.  

What Is Cyber Essentials? 

Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed certification scheme designed to help businesses guard against the most common cyber threats. It focuses on five key areas: 

• Firewalls: Establishing secure boundaries to stop unauthorised access to your systems 

• Secure configuration: Ensuring devices and software are set up in a way that minimises vulnerabilities 

• User access control: Making sure sensitive data is only available to the right people 

• Malware protection: Detecting and preventing malicious software like ransomware and viruses 

• Patch management: Keeping systems up to date with critical security updates 

Certification helps reduce your exposure to cyber risks and shows clients and stakeholders that you are proactively safeguarding their data. 

How the Certification Works 

There are two routes to becoming Cyber Essentials certified.  

You can apply through a certification body or complete the process independently via the Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises (IASME) portal. 

Whichever route you choose, the process includes: 

• Completing a self-assessment questionnaire 

• Undergoing an assessment review 

• A final evaluation 

• Receiving your certificate once the criteria is met 

Cyber Essentials also acts as the first step toward Cyber Essentials Plus, which includes more comprehensive checks such as external testing. 

Why It’s Worth the Effort 

Evidence shows that Cyber Essentials makes a real difference: 

• Businesses with Cyber Essentials controls in place report 92% fewer insurance claims. 

• 69% of certified companies say it has made them more competitive in their market. 

• The certification helps build trust with clients, partners, and regulators. 

Cyber Essentials - keep it Simple, with Data Privacy Simplified: 

At Data Privacy Simplified, we help our clients achieve Cyber Essentials certification quickly and clearly. Throughout the process, we guide you through every stage of the process. We explain what each requirement means in plain English, assist with gathering the necessary information, check for any gaps, and ensure your responses meet the required standards. Our team is on hand to answer questions, clarify technical details and provide practical advice when you need it most.  

Our goal is to make certification straightforward and stress-free, so you can focus on running your business while knowing your cyber safeguards are in place.