What is the Cyber Essentials Certification, and what does it entail?
What is the Cyber Essentials Certification, and what does it entail?
The Information Security Forum, the Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises Consortium (IASME), and the British Standards Institution collaborated on developing Cyber Essentials.
The certification’s primary purpose is to safeguard the security, integrity, and availability of enterprise information against online threats. It’s crucial to remember, however, that Cyber Essentials is a foundational level of due diligence from which to develop, not a full-fledged cybersecurity plan.
The Cyber Essentials certification comes with a slew of advantages. You’re definitely aware of the major benefits, such as protection against 98.5 per cent of cyber-attacks and assurance that your employees are working securely.
However, there are other benefits to certification that is less usually acknowledged. The Cyber Essentials certification might also aid in the acquisition of new business.
How Gaining Cyber Essentials Certification Will Help You Gain New Business
1. It’s a fantastic opportunity to do an internal security audit.
When was the last time your company’s internal IT security rules were audited? Who is in charge of maintaining and upgrading the dusty old firewall in the network rack (if one exists at all)? Is the security on your endpoints up to date? Do you use strong passwords that you update regularly?
These are just a few of the questions that any business that relies on its IT infrastructure should be asking. The consequences of a ransomware attack or a major data breach on a business might be disastrous. Not just regarding money, but also regarding reputation. The method requires an organization to self-assess its security using a questionnaire created by an assessor business, which is then checked and signed by a top executive. This degree of inspection of your security rules will reveal flaws and encourage your employees and management to consider cyber security.
2. Improve business reputation
Credibility and trustworthiness are two terms that every company strives to achieve. Obtaining your Cyber Essentials certification will improve your company’s reputation as well as its security.
3. Defend Against Common Threats
While no security approach can guarantee that assaults will not occur, the goal is to reduce the risk as much as possible. The bulk of assaults target basic flaws in IT systems and software, which are very easy to defend against. The Cyber Essentials initiative seeks to give organizations a solid foundation on which to limit the danger of these common but inexperienced cyber-attacks.
4. Demonstrate to Customers You’re concerned about cyber security.
You may demonstrate to your clients, partners, and investors that you care about the security of your systems by displaying the Cyber Essentials emblem on your website. This is especially useful if you’re keeping personal data (such as medical records or financial information) or hosting other commercially sensitive data. This establishes trust with your consumers by demonstrating that you value the integrity of their data.
5. An Essential Step in GDPR Preparation
Every organization that handles EU individuals’ personal data must provide protection against data theft, loss, and unauthorized access. While GDPR will necessitate far more preparation than Cyber Essentials, in the event of a breach, your business can avoid large fines by demonstrating to the Information Commissioner’s Office that the appropriate controls are in place.
6. It Enables Bids on Government Contracts
The government has declared that vendors must be compliant with the Cyber Essentials plan to bid for contracts that entail the processing of sensitive information and the provision of specific technical services, to boost cyber security in its supply chain. This not only protects the integrity of government data, but it may also provide your organization a competitive edge when competing on public-sector contracts.
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are the two versions of Cyber Essentials. UK Cyber Security is an IASME Cyber Essentials Certification Body, which means we can assist your company pass the Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus assessment by providing advice and services.
7. Creating trust
In an internet economy rife with hazards, trust is frequently a precondition for conducting business.
8. New business
The Cyber Essentials accreditation can help you stand out as a reliable company that values security and data protection. This offers you an appealing proposal to potential clients and partners in a world where verification of cybersecurity credentials is becoming increasingly vital.
UK Cyber Security Group Ltd is here to help
Please check out our Cyber Essentials Checklist
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If you would like to know more, do get in touch as we are happy to answer any questions. Looking to improve your cybersecurity but not sure where to start? Begin by getting certified in Cyber Essentials, the UK government’s scheme that covers all the technical controls that will provide the protection that you need to help guard against criminal attacks. Or just get in touch by clicking contact us
