Cyber Essentials v Cyber Essentials Plus

Yes, if your business is already ISO 27001 certified, you will be able to achieve Cyber Essentials certification more easily

Cyber Essentials Plus is a more advanced certification that includes additional security controls and a more rigorous assessment process.

To obtain a Cyber Essentials Plus certification, you must first complete the online Cyber Essentials assessment. This must be done before the Cyber Essentials Plus assessment. Alternatively, if you’ve recently completed Cyber Essentials, you can pursue Cyber Essentials Plus certification within three months.

Yes, Pronetic offers a range of services to help businesses achieve and maintain Cyber Essentials Plus certification, in particular, their Pronetic 270 package is designed specifically to address CE Plus needs.

The certification process involves:

1. Self-assessment: Completing a self-assessment questionnaire to identify any gaps in your security controls.
2. Certification audit: Undergoing an independent certification audit to verify compliance with Cyber Essentials requirements.

The timeframe for Cyber Essentials certification varies based on the certification type and your business’ current security setup. Typically Cyber Essentials can be completed in a few weeks via self-assessment. Fill out a questionnaire, identify security gaps, and submit an application. The certification body reviews submissions within 1-3 business days. Depending on your security and response time, certification could be achieved in as little as a day or two.

Certification usually takes longer than Cyber Essentials, as it involves a more in-depth technical verification process.

Cyber Essentials Plus, a UK government-backed certification program, helps businesses demonstrate their ability to defend against common cyberattacks. It’s an upgraded version of Cyber Essentials, offering a self-assessment option. Cyber Essentials Plus includes all Cyber Essentials requirements and adds an external certification body verification.

Cyber Essentials sets the minimum cybersecurity standard for UK businesses. It is a certification scheme designed to help businesses protect themselves from common cyber threats. It provides a baseline level of security by requiring business owners to implement a set of essential security controls.

The Cyber Essentials initiative, backed by the government, safeguards organizations of various sizes against common cyberattacks.

Cyber Essentials Plus is relevant for any and all businesses which handle sensitive data. It is particularly suitable for those which need to meet higher security standards, such as those in the financial or healthcare sectors

Cyber Essentials Plus includes both internal and external assessments of your network and computers. This involves an onsite visit, providing greater assurance of your compliance with the Cyber Essentials Scheme compared to the basic self-assessment level.