The HBP Group Achieves Cyber Essentials Plus Certification for 2026

Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrates the robust security standards we maintain to help protect our customers and support their cybersecurity journeys.

We are delighted to announce that The HBP Group has successfully achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification for 2026, demonstrating our continued commitment to maintaining the highest standards of cybersecurity across our business.

As cyber threats continue to evolve and organisations face increasing pressure to protect their systems, data and customers, achieving Cyber Essentials Plus provides independent verification that our security controls are not only in place, but are operating effectively in practice.

A Significant Milestone for Our Business 

Cyber Essentials Plus is the highest level of certification available under the UK Government-backed Cyber Essentials scheme. While the standard Cyber Essentials certification involves a comprehensive self-assessment process, Cyber Essentials Plus goes several steps further by requiring a rigorous independent technical audit of an organisation's security controls.

This includes extensive testing of devices, systems, user access controls, malware protection and vulnerability management processes to validate that security measures are functioning as intended.

Ryan Rust, Group IT Services & Projects Director at The HBP Group, commented:

"We are incredibly proud to have successfully achieved Cyber Essentials Plus certification for 2026. This represents a significant milestone for our business and provides independent validation of the robust cybersecurity controls we have implemented across our organisation.

More importantly, it reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting our systems, our data, and the clients who trust us with their technology and security. Cybersecurity is not a one-time exercise; it requires continuous investment, vigilance and improvement, and this certification demonstrates the high standards we hold ourselves accountable to every day.

Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus requires collaboration across the entire business, and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this achievement. The engagement, cooperation and commitment shown throughout the process played a vital role in making this possible.

As both an IT provider and cybersecurity partner, this certification strengthens our ability to support organisations looking to improve their own security posture, navigate compliance requirements and build greater resilience against today's ever-evolving cyber threats."

What Cyber Essentials Plus Means

Cyber Essentials Plus provides assurance that an organisation has implemented a range of fundamental cybersecurity controls that help defend against the most common cyber attacks.

These controls focus on areas including:

• Secure configuration of systems and devices
• User access management
• Malware protection
• Security update and patch management
• Firewalls and internet gateways
• Vulnerability management

While no certification can eliminate cyber risk entirely, Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrates that an organisation has taken significant steps to reduce risk and protect against the vast majority of common cyber threats.

Understanding the New Cyber Essentials Plus Scope 

The Cyber Essentials scheme has evolved significantly in recent years, with important updates to the requirements and scope of assessment. The latest changes place greater emphasis on ensuring that organisations consider all relevant devices, users and services within their environment, creating a more comprehensive picture of security across the business.

These developments reflect the reality of modern working practices, including hybrid working, cloud adoption and increasingly distributed IT environments.

If you'd like to understand these changes in more detail, we've already covered the latest Cyber Essentials Plus scope updates in a dedicated blog here.

 The enhanced scope requirements mean organisations must have a much clearer understanding of their entire technology estate, helping to ensure security controls are applied consistently across all areas of the business. 

Turning Experience into Customer Value 

As a provider of managed IT and cybersecurity services, achieving Cyber Essentials Plus isn't simply about meeting a compliance requirement ourselves.

The process gives our team first-hand experience of navigating the certification journey, understanding the latest assessment criteria and implementing the controls required to achieve compliance under the updated framework.

This knowledge allows us to better support our customers, whether they are:

• Beginning their Cyber Essentials journey
• Working towards Cyber Essentials Plus certification
• Looking to improve their overall cybersecurity posture
• Responding to customer or supply chain security requirements
• Seeking guidance around compliance and risk management

Having successfully completed the process ourselves, we understand both the technical requirements and the practical challenges organisations face when preparing for assessment.

Security That Benefits Every Customer  

While achieving Cyber Essentials Plus is an important achievement for The HBP Group, the real value lies in what it means for our customers.

The certification provides independent assurance that we operate to recognised cybersecurity standards and continue to invest in protecting the systems, services and data that support our clients every day.

In today's threat landscape, where cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent, organisations need confidence that their technology partners take security seriously. Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrates that commitment and reinforces the security-first approach that underpins everything we do.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern; it is a business-critical requirement. By maintaining strong security standards within our own organisation, we are better positioned to help our customers strengthen theirs.

If you're considering Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification, or simply want to understand how your organisation can improve its cybersecurity resilience, our team would be happy to help.

Get in touch to discuss your cybersecurity requirements and how we can support your journey towards a more secure future.