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Cyber Essentials certification is the only industry-backed certification in the field of cybersecurity. It covers all aspects of cybersecurity technology and solutions, including cybersecurity policy and procedure, information security management and risk management.
There are two levels of Cyber Certification: basic and plus. Here is a quick breakdown of what each level entails:
Both certifications were created to help businesses and individuals understand the risks of cybercrime and how to protect themselves against them.
The total cost of Cyber Essentials certification varies depending on multiple factors:
The basic costs for each certification are as follows:
The Cyber Essentials Certification is a great way to start your career in Cyber Security. The certification is offered by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and is designed to help employees improve their knowledge in cyber security.
The certification authority that governs Cyber Essentials Certification, IASME, charges the following fees:
Organisations based in the UK with a revenue of under £20 million are also automatically covered against cyber liability.
Organisations must, however, take into account the costs of preparing for the evaluation and of aligning their activities with the five controls of the scheme: Anti-malware programs, patch management tools, network access controls, and firewall configurations all fall under this category.
There is up to 6 month time limit on completing and submitting your online application and accompanying questionnaire for review. You have to reapply and pay again if you do not submit within that time frame. Those who fail the Cyber Essentials questionnaire can retake it for free within two days and have their answers and have their answers reviewed.
However, you are required to pay the whole fee again if you fail for the second time or resubmit after the 48-hour time period has ended.
This Cyber Essentials Certification costs more than the basic Cyber Essentials Certification as it is the highest level standard in Cyber Essentials. Depending on the size of your organisation, the cost of preparing for Cyber Essentials Plus will vary. The certification fee typically ranges between £1,900 and £4,000 + VAT.
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus Certifications are both relevant for your organisation, but there are some key differences.
| Cyber Essentials | Cyber Essentials Plus |
| It covers the basics of cybersecurity, including protecting your identity and confidential information, as well as understanding how to share information securely. | In addition to the topics covered in Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus includes training in ethical hacking along with general information about how to use tools like penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. |
The Cyber Essentials certification is a great way to train your employees in cybersecurity. It is affordable, easy to complete and has the potential to open up opportunities for your organisation.
Your company is probably tied to a potential target of a cyberattack, regardless of its size. Cyber Essentials Certification is important for small organisations because it helps you understand the basics of cybersecurity and how to implement safe practices.
Here are a few additional benefits:
You will be able to offer a clear message about Cyber Security training and make sure that your team members understand what they need to do. When you have employees who understand the importance of cybersecurity, they are more likely to take steps towards protecting themselves from Cyber-attacks. Your team will know how to respond in a crisis situation, whether it is an actual attack or just a small breach of security.
As part of the Cyber Essentials scheme, installing the five fundamental security policies will help mitigate the effect of threats like Phishing scams, Malware, ransomware, attacks based on password guessing, and attacks on the network.
Supply chain security is a term used to describe the security of your supply chain. It includes everything from physical security to the supply chain itself, which includes the movement of goods and information between suppliers and customers.
When customers and clients see that your organisation has Cyber Security measures in place such as the Cyber Essentials Certification, not only will you be able to attract new customers, you will also be able to reassure them that their information is safe within your organisation.
The NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) is a specialised agency that protects computer systems and networks of federal government agencies, including the Department of Defence.
The certification you acquire, be it the Cyber Essentials or the Cyber Essentials Plus, will be valid for a total of 12 months. This means that for your certification to be valid, you are required to renew it annually.
IASME will email you a month before the certification expires so that you have enough time to renew it.
If you do not certify in the Cyber Essentials Certification, your organisation may be held liable for any data breaches that may occur. Data breaches can be costly. Therefore, it is important that organisations use certifications like this to train their employees efficiently.
You are also at risk of having your organisation suffer negative publicity or even being shut down by the government (in extreme cases) if a breach has occurred and has been unattended to. You are also not able to access the training materials or other materials that are part of the certification process.
Now that you have learnt about what being Cyber Essentials certified means, you are able to get started with certification and gain one of the most important certifications in the cybercecurity space. If you are interested in learning about other information security certifications, such as ISO 27001, reach out to us for a free consultation.