Cyber Essentials controls don’t have to be another business headache. While many companies dread the process, there’s a smarter way to approach this essential cyber security standard that actually strengthens your business rather than just ticking boxes.
Let’s talk about handling it the stress-free way.
Hang On – What Is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed cyber security initiative that covers five fundamental security controls every business should have in place. Published by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), it provides a baseline level of protection against the most common cyber threats.
The framework focuses on practical technical controls rather than lengthy processes. Think multifactor authentication, supported software, secure configuration, access control, and malware protection. Nothing revolutionary, just cyber hygiene basics that, ideally, should already be protecting your business.
Why Cyber Essentials Matters for Your Business
For businesses across London and the Home Counties, Cyber Essentials has become more than just good practice. Government contracts often require it, and many large organisations now expect their suppliers to meet its requirements.
Beyond tender requirements, cyber insurance providers increasingly look for evidence of proper security controls. Aligning with Cyber Essentials provides that proof whilst actively reducing your risk exposure. It’s compliance that makes commercial sense.
The Traditional Problem With Adhering to Cyber Essentials
Most IT providers follow the same process: conduct an expensive gap analysis, present a hefty remediation quote, then charge again for the submission process. Over the years, we’ve lost count of the number of businesses that’ve told us how frustrating they find this approach.
Many have found themselves paying thousands for assessments that highlight problems without fixing them. Others discover their certification lapse because nobody maintains the underlying controls.
It’s a checkbox exercise that misses the point entirely – because these providers are treating Cyber Essentials as a way to bring in additional revenue.
Why SME Cyber Security Needs a Different Approach
Small and medium enterprises can’t afford the same cyber security overhead as large corporations. But they face the same threats and increasingly the same compliance requirements.
The answer isn’t cutting corners. By embedding security into your managed IT services rather than treating it as a separate concern, you get enterprise-level protection at SME-friendly costs.
Our Approach to Cyber Essentials? Fix First, Certify Later
Our approach flips the typical model completely. Instead of treating Cyber Essentials as a separate project, it becomes part of your core IT foundation.
Every business we work with gets the technical controls implemented as standard, not as an expensive add-on. This means you’re already most of the way towards compliance before we even mention Cyber Essentials.
You Get: Built-In Security From Day One
Rather than bolting security onto existing systems, we build it in from the ground up. Our Microsoft 365 baseline includes all the policies needed for compliance with the scheme, deployed automatically for every client.
This approach means that not only are you compliant, but you’re more secure, too. The controls protect your business whether you pursue formal certification or not.
You Get: Real-Time Visibility Into Your Security
You shouldn’t have to guess your security posture when running a business. Our proprietary cyber risk platform gives you clear visibility into where you stand against Cyber Essentials requirements and beyond.
You can see your security score in real time, track improvements over time, and have board-ready reporting whenever you need it. No more wondering whether your controls are still working months after implementation.
You Get: Financial Guarantees That Back Up Our Claims
We’re confident enough in our approach to guarantee results. If we’ve promised to maintain your Cyber Essentials compliance level and fail to after the second month, we’ll provide 25% of your monthly fee back until we resolve it.
You Get: Ongoing Maintenance, Not One-Off Projects
This isn’t a set-and-forget situation. The underlying controls need ongoing management and regular review as your business changes and threats evolve.
We handle this maintenance as part of our standard service, not as annual extras. Your controls stay current, your controls remain valid, and you don’t face surprise costs or compliance gaps.
Your Next Step: Book a Cyber Essentials Readiness Check
Cyber Essentials doesn’t have to be complicated, burdensome, or expensive. With the right approach, we can make it part of building a stronger, more resilient business.
Ready to explore how this could work for your business? Book a quick Cyber Essentials readiness check with our team. We’ll show you exactly where you stand and what it would take for you to get certified the smarter way.
