What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It is designed to help organisations protect themselves from the most common cyber threats, including phishing, malware, and unauthorised access.

Rather than overwhelming businesses with complex compliance demands, the scheme provides a clear framework of five core controls that must be implemented and maintained.

The Five Technical Controls at the Heart of Cyber Essentials

To become Cyber Essentials certified, your organisation needs to demonstrate that it has the following protections in place:

1. Firewalls & Internet Gateways – To control access to your network

2. Secure Configuration – To ensure devices and software are set up securely

3. User Access Control – To manage user permissions and reduce insider risk

4. Malware Protection – To prevent and detect harmful software

5. Patch Management – To keep devices and applications up to date

These simple yet powerful controls are proven to reduce your risk from the vast majority of opportunistic cyber attacks.

What is Cyber Essentials Accreditation?

When your business meets these five security criteria, you can apply for Cyber Essentials accreditation. This is typically done via a self-assessment questionnaire, which is then independently reviewed by a certification body.

Certification demonstrates that your organisation:

• Takes cyber security seriously

• Protects sensitive customer and operational data

• Has controls in place to mitigate the most common threats

It’s also a minimum requirement for many UK government contracts and public-sector tenders, particularly in defence, healthcare, and education.

What is Cyber Essentials Plus?

While Cyber Essentials is based on a self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus takes things a step further.

This version includes a technical audit conducted by an independent assessor. The audit verifies that your security controls are not only in place—but are working effectively in practice.

The assessment process includes:

• Vulnerability scans

• Configuration reviews

• User access checks

• Live system testing

Cyber Essentials Plus provides greater assurance for businesses handling sensitive data, working in regulated industries, or simply wanting to strengthen their security posture.

Why Both Accreditations Matter

Both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are important tools in the fight against cyber crime. By getting accredited, your business:

• Reduces its exposure to cyber risk

• Increases client and stakeholder trust

• Meets compliance standards for specific contracts

• Can potentially reduce cyber insurance premiums

Whether you start with the foundational Cyber Essentials or aim for the more robust Cyber Essentials Plus, each step moves your business closer to stronger cyber resilience.

Get Support from The HBP Group

At The HBP Group, we help businesses implement the five core controls, prepare for audits, and maintain compliance long after certification. Our team simplifies the process—guiding you through the assessment and ensuring your systems are secure, stable, and future-ready.