Cyber Essentials… it sounds a bit like something your gran would attend at the local library, doesn't it? Where they teach you how to use a mouse and check your email, but really everyone's there for the free tea and biscuits?

Well, actually, Cyber Essentials is serious business. It's a bona fide government-backed scheme that helps organisations protect themselves against cyber attacks.

And you don't get tea and biscuits, unfortunately. (We know… big oversight.)

What you do get is the peace of mind that your business and its data is secure, as well as a certification that shows customers you know your stuff.

Read on to learn more about the scheme and why every business owner – yes, that includes you, Derryck – should consider signing up.

What is this Cyber Essentials stuff anyway?

"So," we hear you ask, "if I sign up for Cyber Essentials I get a certificate…? Like when I swam ten metres at school?"

No. Well… yes. But there's more to it than that.

Cyber Essentials certification involves an in-depth assessment of your business's cyber defences. It's designed to help you identify and fix flaws in your security. These vulnerabilities must be addressed in order for certification to be granted.

So it's more than a piece of paper. It provides a quick and simple way to align your online security with the latest standards.

And it comes in two flavours, right?

That's correct. Cyber Essentials is like vanilla ice cream. Cyber Essentials Plus is like a chocolate sundae with sprinkles.

Or to be a bit more technical… Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment programme. You're given a list of questions to complete (about 70, at last count) which cover every facet of your company's IT infrastructure.

You complete your assessment through an online questionnaire. After a few days (usually), you'll be told if you've passed or failed.

Cyber Essentials Plus certification covers the same ground as the vanilla version but includes a bunch of useful extras. Most notably, you benefit from an on-site evaluation by a security expert.

Why should I bother?

Um… because four in ten UK businesses experienced a cybersecurity attack in 2021?(And that was a good year.)

And the average cost of a security breach is more than £2,500?

And cyber scams increased by 400% when the COVID-19 pandemic kicked in?

You get the picture. Cyber crime poses a serious threat, and it's only going to become more prevalent as businesses increasingly move their operations online.

Think of it this way. You're much more likely to experience a cyber attack than an attempted break-in. Yet, while none of us would think twice about locking up when we clock off, many businesses are leaving their digital doors open to opportunistic online burglars.

Then, of course, there's GDPR. In case you've time travelled from 2002, GDPR is a Europe-wide regulation focussing on data protection and privacy.

If your business is found to be in violation of GDPR, you could face a maximum fine of £17.5 million. And if that doesn't make you scramble to sign up, nothing will.

Come on Yoozoom, really? I'm a florist for crying out loud

Ah, well that changes everything. Hackers love nothing more than a neatly arranged bunch of roses and will stop at nothing to get hold of them.

No, but seriously, your business's size or sector doesn't matter. Everybody is at risk, even sole traders.

All it takes is to click a dodgy link on a bleary-eyed morning, and – boom – your company goes kaput.

Not to mention the fact that the world of business is a vast, interconnected web nowadays. If you're a small link in a long supply chain, you're just as vulnerable as the big megacorp at the top of the tree.

The "good news"

Now we've scared you half to death, allow us to share the good news.

While these cybercriminals may be tenacious, and tricksy, and cold blooded in their pursuit of your data… they're also, frankly, a bit dumb.

We tend to think of cybercrime being conducted in vast, dimly lit halls, where banks of screens reel through data under the watchful eyes of master hackers.

Nah, this is more like the weird kid at school trying to make a quick buck using his mum's PC.

Sure, some cybercrime is very sophisticated indeed. But the vast majority of security attacks consist of straightforward phishing schemes or the exploitation of basic vulnerabilities.

By helping you address these simple flaws, Cyber Essentials can protect you from up to 80% of security breaches.

OK, it wasn't good news like "congratulations, you've won a Ferrari full of money". But it beats a kick in the eye or a £17.5 million GDPR fine.

Is it easy to get certified?

It depends.

If you've got the right information to hand and know IT like the back of it, you could get certified in a matter of days.

All you'll need is… let's see…

A list of all hardware used across your business (including personal devices employees use for work)… and the business-related software on those devices… and the security settings in each piece of software. Oh, and you'll need to know every facet of your business-wide security policy, and that each operating system and application is up to date.

Yeah. So for most of us, it's not so easy.

But that's where we can help, because we're uniquely positioned to help businesses pass with flying colours.

Unlike many companies that offer cybersecurity certification, we're an IT services firm first and foremost. We live and breathe technology, and have plenty of tricks up our sleeves to speed things up and ensure long-lasting protection.

Plus, we go above and beyond to help you succeed. We don't just throw a bunch of questions at you and say "good luck" – we work hard with your IT team to make sure your systems and processes are as secure as can be. Then, when we're super confident you'll be certified, we pass things onto a trusted third party for accreditation.

I'm interested. What now?

Great! Let's push the button. Book a free, no-obligation consultation online.

Or, if you'd like some more info, take a look at our Cyber Essentials page. (Or just give us a call. We like a natter.)

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